Traffic detours as construction continues on University Avenue Street project in City Heights – NBC 7 San Diego

The next phase of construction will begin on Monday for a street project to add roundabouts, medians and safety features for pedestrians along University Avenue in the City Heights area.

The University Avenue Complete Street project along University Avenue in City Heights began in January of 2023. The project was originally intended to be wrapped up this past summer, but due to some delays, the city said they expect construction will be done in the winter.

24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are

The roughly $12.3 million project will add new safety improvements to the City Heights neighborhood between Fairmount Avenue and Euclid Avenue, including three roundabouts, raised center medians, as well as traffic features for pedestrians including wider sidewalks and curb extensions.

The latest detour will redirect traffic starting at the Highland Avenue intersection.

That portion of University Avenue has various safety cones, barriers and fencing set up in front of the businesses that line the neighborhood. Maxine Zepeda, the owner of the Ryan Bros Coffee location in City Heights, said this has caused hardship for her business for the last six months, when fencing and barriers were set up outside of her business.

"It's really inconvenient. Like, if you're trying to find parking and now you're trying to find a place, like, OK how do I get in?" said Zepeda. "If I drive in and I see all of this I would think the coffee shop is closed, because I can't even see the door."

Next door, David Lopez works at SANPA Barbershop which opened its doors in September. Lopez said while he doesn't have buyer's remorse, he can't help but have some mixed feelings about the ongoing construction.

"We're a new business, but at the same time the exposure that cuts down with the fences doesn't help," said Lopez.

The city said the detours will be in place for the next five weeks, and should wrap up around the second week of November. In the meantime, some small businesses, like Zepeda's, are having to make the best of it.

"I'm just trying to be patient and find ways to like, make it better for the customers," said Zepeda.

NBC 7 reached out to the City of San Diego for comment on the delays. We are still waiting for a response.

The city says these detours will be in place for five weeks, meaning things should wrap up around the second week of November.