BENTON, Ark. — Crews are widening Highway 5 in Benton, adding more lanes and increasing safety, but with that comes some challenges for drivers and businesses in the area.
"It's definitely slowed us down a little bit," Scooter's Coffee Manager Jasmine Morris said.
The Highway 5 construction has taken over one of the entrances to Scooter's Coffee.
Morris said she's seen a significant dip in sales since the project started.
"We still have our loyal customers coming through every day, coming to see us," Morris said. "We do appreciate all the support from the community. Those coming to see us when they can make it in."
Pulling up to Scooter's Coffee isn't as easy as it used to be.
"Now they're having to come down to the light, and not everyone knows that," Morris said. "We get phone calls sometimes from people asking, 'How do we get in there? I want to get my coffee. How can I get to you?'"
Thankfully, this is all temporary, but Dave Parker with the Arkansas Department of Transportation said there's still much left to do.
"We looked at an estimated completion date of that stretch," Parker said. "I think it was February of next year. Now it's looking like it will be more in March."
Parker said utility issues are the reason for the delay.
"It can slow things down a little bit," Parker said. "It's no one's fault, but the utilities part. It's kind of the red tape of any project, and that's what we're running into here."
Once it's all finished, Parker said it will make a huge difference for the roughly 95,000 drivers who travel on Highway 5 daily.
"It's taking Highway 5 from two lanes to five...you're going to have sidewalks," Parker said. "The lanes will be a little wider than they currently are. Just give people a straighter shot through that area. Offer a nice alternative to Interstate 30 to alleviate that traffic [and] give you a second choice."
Parker also said this will help keep up with the growth Saline County is experiencing.
"You won't have as much traffic," Parker said. "Saline County keeps growing and adding more pe. Those five lanes will be able to accommodate it."
Parker said they eventually plan to widen the rest of Highway 5 up to the Pulaski County line.