City officials said Thursday afternoon that the roadway will continue to change over the next month or two, with vertical construction expected to begin this fall.
Cones, construction and congestion have become routine for drivers and business owners along the corridor as the project moves forward.
"It doesn't look great right now," said Dr. Stephen Oradesky of Josef's Pharmacy.
Little Blue Bakehouse owner Allison Vick said the work has affected traffic flow.
"It definitely backs traffic up a bit," she said.
Trees were recently removed along the avenue, and some businesses and homeowners had portions of their property acquired to make way for the project.
Vick, who owns two small businesses in the area, is preparing to open a second shop called All Kinds, which will offer North Carolina beer, wine and locally made products. The grand opening is scheduled for next Friday.
Vick plans to use $2,500 in grant funding to add signage aimed at helping customers find her businesses amid the construction.
"Hopefully, it will draw more attention to the complex itself so people don't forget there are a couple of small businesses here that still need support," she said.
The BRT line will eventually connect downtown Raleigh to areas east of WakeMed Hospital and is expected to be operational by summer 2030.
Oradesky said he hopes the project will bring more people and opportunities to the area.
"There's been some development here in the last few years. I know there's a new senior living complex down there, so anything that can bring more people to the area and more businesses, I think, is a good thing," he said.
City staff said Thursday they plan to replace the trees removed during construction with North Carolina native trees and shrubs once the roadway work is complete.
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