What was once an unusual site has now become the norm at E&B Elotes in Pharr.

The snack shop has four location in the Rio Grande Valley, and the Pharr location used to be the bestseller, employee Pedro Mendoza said.

“Our business was good,” Mendoza recalled. “We were very established, the clients were good. But after the work started, things went down a lot. It's not the same anymore.”

The Pharr location of the snack shop is located along the Pharr Interchange, which is under construction as part of an expansion project.

Mendoza and fellow E&B Elotes employee Alberto Hernandez said sales have dropped by nearly 60% since construction started near the Pharr location.

“The work really affects us, but we can't really do anything,” Hernandez said. 

Both employees attribute the store's losses to people not being able to access them as easily as before.

“In fact, one day we sold nothing,” Mendoza said. “Right now we're selling, but it's down a lot. It's the same thing in McAllen, but here in Pharr is where we're impacted the most."

The McAllen location is also along the interchange. 

Mendoza and Hernandez also attributed their loss in business to the traffic being caused by the construction.

“Sometimes the people used to park here for five minutes and drink an agua fresca or something, but the traffic doesn't flow anymore,” Hernandez said. “People don't have time now for a drink because they're sitting in traffic."

With little to no customers coming through their doors, Mendoza said they have to constantly throw away food products.

Ray Pedraza, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation, said crews are working seven days a week to complete the project as soon as possible.

“The I-2/I-69C Interchange Project contractor communicates regularly with businesses along the project corridor,” Pedraza said in a statement made to Channel 5 News. “They're always available to address any concerns from businesses or the general public." 

TxDOT says the roads expected to be fully completed by December 2023, but they'll still be putting up signs and lights through January 2024.