36th Avenue Businesses Celebrate as Bridge Over Highway 169 Reopens
After a months-long closure, the 36th Avenue Bridge over Highway 169 reopened to the public on Friday. The bridge closed back in June. That closure was necessary to replace the old bridge and build a new one.
This reopening is a sigh of relief for the New Hope businesses just off the exit. Marcos Ayala, who owns Arizona Taco Co. just off that exit, said the closure took a toll on his customer base and staff.
“It’s been tough for a lot of the businesses here in this strip mall,” Ayala said. “Our sales were down about 35 percent, and I’m sure the other businesses in here have also been down. We had to lay off two employees since the bridge closed, so that’s unfortunate.”
Ayala said he hopes they can make up the difference to bring those employees back.
Even after months of hardship, the bridge reopening is cause for celebration. There was a line out the door at lunch time Friday. Ayala said that’s the longest it’s been in months. Before the bridge closure, long lines were the norm.
Customers line up along the wall at Arizona Taco Co.
Ayala hopes this momentum only grows for him and the others along the strip mall so they can rebuild and rehire.
“Support the businesses that are in here, you know. Especially during the holidays,” Ayala said. “A lot of the businesses are still catching up from the loss that we had during the bridge closure.”
Ayala said the businesses received no government assistance during the closure.
All lanes and exits are open off the 36th Avenue Bridge. This construction work raised the height of and beautified the bridge.
The 36th Avenue Bridge reopened to traffic on Friday, Nov. 8.
