Fillmore construction causes headaches for drivers

The latest phase of the I-25 and Fillmore Street Interchange continues this weekend, and it’s causing major headaches for drivers.

Under the $15.1 million dollar project, the ramps from southbound I-25 to Fillmore Street and Fillmore Street to southbound I-25 will be closed. In addition, Fillmore Street will be closed between Chestnut Street and the northbound I-25 ramps. All westbound Fillmore Street traffic will have to exit to northbound I-25. Northbound I-25 traffic can exit at Fillmore but will only be able to go east on Fillmore.

“It’s just really stressful, that’s all I can say. It’s a long wait in hot weather, it’s a long wait,” said Tomas Samano and Erin Krueger.

Samano and Kueger live in the area, and say the continued cone zones mean 45 minute delays for them.

“It’s hard it’s a long wait. The kids fall asleep in the car waiting to get across. then you have to wait to get home,” Samano and Krueger added.

Betty Cisneros also travels the road often. She says there are times when the traffic is scary and the existing bridge shakes.

“It’s one of the easiest routes to take unless it’s like a certain time of day then you should not because it’s too packed,” Cisneros said. “I have road rage (laughs) I just get irritated in general so I try to avoid it.”

The current phase of construction will continue through Monday morning, and the area will also close next weekend. The project is expected to be finished in summer of 2016. Despite temporary frustrations, drivers say they’re hopeful in the long-run.

“I’m hoping it’ll open it up so traffic will flow, so the on ramps will flow,” said Samano and Krueger.

“Maybe everything will go a lot faster. Trying to get on to the highway, trying to get off the highway. Hopefully, the bridge won’t shake no more,” said Cisneros.