Latest news with #Jewelers
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Downtown Miami business feels impact of I-395 construction
Navigating traffic in Downtown Miami can be a nightmare for some drivers. Now, there is another issue to contend with - construction on the nearby interstate. Susana Castillo, owner of B.O.S. Jewelers in Downtown Miami, said construction delays and lane closures on I-395 are impacting her business by keeping shoppers away. "We're having lower foot traffic and a hard time covering the rent," Castillo said. "My drive is always never less than one hour, if I'm lucky, sometimes it's an hour and 30 minutes." Castillo said once she gets off I-395, unrelated construction work on Flagler Street adds to the headache. With fewer customers in her store, Castillo said adjusted how she does business. "Right now, I'm focusing more online. I have a website so people can buy online and (I) make it easier with shipping," she said. While the construction impacts businesses and people who live downtown, the lane closures, detours and congestion are all part of the growing pains, according to Oscar Gonzalez, the community outreach specialist for the I-395/SR-836/I-95 Design-Build Project. "We implement traffic shifts, that means we're making progress because we're opening new areas for construction," he said. The project, which is a partnership between the Florida Department of Transportation and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, has ongoing work where three of Miami-Dade's busiest traffic corridors meet. "There are impacts when you undertake any highway reconstruction project, especially one of this magnitude," Gonzalez said. A big part of the project is the construction of the new signature bridge on I-395. It will not only transform the skyline, but add capacity as well. Also a 1.4 mile stretch of the interstate, from the Midtown Interchange to the MacArthur Causeway is being rebuilt. On State Road 836/Dolphin Expressway, crews are building a double decker stretch from NW 17 Avenue to the Midtown Interchange. The double-decked section will provide drivers with a direct connection to the MacArthur Causeway. Gonzalez said the replacement of concrete on I-95 from NW 8 Street to NW 29 Street is almost complete. According to the transportation department, the total cost of the project is $840 million and it should be finished by 2027. Completion can't come soon enough for Castillo who said she hopes shoppers will brave the tough traffic. "People get used to it eventually, but when they want to come to a place, they come, but it's hard to tell," she said. Drivers can stay up to date on the I-395 Design Project impacts by signing up for alerts from the transportation department.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peoria Humane Society to host 11th annual Wine and Whiskers
PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (WMBD) — Imagine getting to taste wine while sharing a space with cute kittens. Peoria Humane Society's upcoming 11th annual Wine and Whiskers delivers just that, along with raffles, art and food. Director Kitty Yanko explains the importance animals have in central Illinois. 'People come out to support animals in our community,' Yanko said. 'They know that the money is well spent because they're helping not only animals get a better life, but we're also helping sometimes people keep their pets.' Included in the festivities are adoptable kittens, and while they can't be brought home that night, they can still find their forever home at the event. One featured activity in the event is the Glitter Box, a box of kitty litter mixed with glitter with surprises inside, but not the surprises you may think. 'There are hidden treasures in there, including some diamond earrings from Jones Brothers, Jewelers, and also some precious gems,' Yanko said. 'So some of the values are up to $1,000. If you're a cat person and you're used to scooping, this will be something a little bit more fun than the regular scooping.' The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Trailside Event Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
