CORNELIUS, N.C. -- Drivers coming to Cornelius from I-77 are now greeted by a giant steel cable ship mast. The project was a $2 million investment that took more than a year to complete, and it drew criticism from Cornelius business owners after construction regularly backed up traffic for miles along Catawba Avenue.
"We did see some decrease in numbers and everything like that. And we had customers calling and everything like that, but it was fine. It was okay," said John Desieno.
Desieno owns Italian gourmet market Derado's. He says he didn't mind the small set back as long as it means growth. After all, that's what drew him and his New York-based family to Cornelius in the first place.
"I picked this location seven years ago before anything was here," said Desieno.
Since then, Catawba Avenue's expanded from two to four lanes. And this weekend, construction cones were finally removed to unveil a finished diverging diamond.
Business owners seem to be on board, as long as branding means a boost for business.
"Even the outlying towns like Mooresville and Huntersville and stuff like that, they'll see an increase because everyone's going to be coming here and then everyone's going to branch out this way, so I think it's beneficial for everybody," said Desieno.
