Name: Project pause: Apex Salem Streetscape project halted
Uploaded: 2026-04-27T15:48:18+00:00
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: The long-awaited project hit a lull after electrical concerns. As a result, business owners say they've seen less foot traffic and a hard hit in sales.

The long-awaited project hit a lull after electrical concerns. As a result, business owners say they've seen less foot traffic and a hard hit in sales.

A multi-million dollar construction project in downtown Apex is on pause, worrying business owners who’ve dealt with months of disruptions.

Work on the Salem Streetscape project has been held up for the last few weeks because of design tweaks prompted by electrical issues, according to Mayor Jacques Gilbert.

Other WRAL Top Stories

The town committed more than $4.7 million last year to transform North Salem Street with new walkways, lighting, trees and pedestrian-friendly design.

Work began in January, and North Salem Street has been restricted to one-way traffic from Saunders Street to West Chatham Street for months. Pedestrian traffic on both sides of the street has been open for the duration of the project.

Businesses on Salem Street say the construction has hit foot traffic and sales hard.

“We're tracking down anywhere from 10 to 20%,” said Steven Perticona, a manager at Anna’s Pizzeria. “We've cut back some hours for staff members. We're really running tight.”

The town of Apex has tried to get the word out that Salem Street is open for business, if not two-way traffic. A banner hanging high over the road reads “Downtown Apex is open for business!” Other signs have been added to downtown detour markers.

“The main thing that I think most of the business owners are looking for is communication,” said Larry Seiger, owner of custom-jewelry maker Virtuoso Jewels. “So that when we do have a slowdown in construction and the guys aren't here, that we know more about what actually is the holdup, what's going how long it's going to take.”

According to Mayor Gilbert, despite the pause, the Streetscape project is on track to be completed by October, and two-way traffic will return at that time.