Months into a multimillion-dollar project designed to improve downtown Apex, some business owners say they are still feeling the effects of construction as the town’s latest timeline stretches through the end of the year.
The town of Apex is in the second phase of its Salem Streetscape project, a more than $4.7 million overhaul intended to make Salem Street more pedestrian-friendly with wider sidewalks, new lighting, trees, street furniture and other improvements.
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Construction began in January and has restricted a portion of Salem Street between Saunders and Chatham streets to one-way southbound traffic. Businesses and sidewalks remain open.
Some downtown merchants say convincing customers to navigate the construction has become increasingly difficult.
Hue Delgado, who owns a barbershop in downtown Apex, said he has noticed hesitation among people who would normally visit the area.
“It’s been bad. It’s been real bad,” he said.
His concern echoes what other downtown businesses told WRAL earlier this year.
In April, WRAL reported that work on the project had temporarily stalled while crews worked through design changes prompted by electrical issues.
At the time, Steven Perticona, a manager at Anna’s Pizzeria, told WRAL the restaurant was tracking a 10% to 20% decline in business.
“We've cut back some hours for staff members. We're really running tight,” Perticona said at the time.
Larry Seiger, owner of Virtuoso Jewels, told WRAL then that communication was among merchants’ biggest concerns, particularly when work slowed or crews were not visible.
Since then, Virtuoso Jewels told WRAL that their business picked back up after construction moved to the other side of the street. But, neighbors still worry about restaurants along the strip.
At the time of WRAL’s April reporting, Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert said that the project remained on track to be completed by October, when two-way traffic was expected to return.
The town’s latest online project update, dated Sept. 1, now lists the construction contract timeline as running from January through December 2026.
WRAL reached out to the town of Apex multiple times Thursday seeking clarification on what changed between the October completion estimate and the current December timeline, as well as what the town is doing to mitigate the impact on downtown businesses. Town staff had not responded to requests for an interview as of publication.
According to the Sept. 1 update, crews completed underground infrastructure and paver work on the east side of Salem Street in mid-July. Southbound traffic has since shifted onto the newly completed east-side travel lane while crews demolish and rebuild portions of the west side.
Current work includes underground soil cells and storm drain improvements. Electrical and fiber conduit work is expected next, while the town awaits delivery of light poles and street furniture for the completed side.
A 5-foot-wide sidewalk path remains open along west-side businesses to maintain access.
The town has repeatedly emphasized that downtown remains open during construction. It has installed signs encouraging people to support local businesses and directs visitors to an interactive parking map and the Apex Parking app to find available parking.
The town is also encouraging residents to buy gift cards, visit downtown shops and restaurants and spread the word that businesses remain accessible.
For some merchants, however, the concern is not what downtown will look like when construction is finished. It is making it through the disruption to get there.
The Salem Streetscape project is ultimately intended to create a more walkable downtown with additional space for outdoor dining and other pedestrian amenities, something businesses are ultimately looking forward to.
With work now in its second phase, businesses are watching closely to see how quickly crews progress and when normal two-way traffic will return to Salem Street.
