Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It may be hard to believe, but in less than a month construction on the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project is set to begin.

Phase one of the construction will widen Woodmen Road to three lanes in both directions from I-25 east past Academy Boulevard.

It will also add a massive interchange at the intersection of Woodmen and Academy.

Construction is set to begin in September, and officials said it will take about two years to complete.

Funding for the project came in large part from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) along with federal economic stimulus money.

With the construction so close to starting, many local businesses in the area fear what the project may do to them.

"Our business is based off of a lot of walk-in business, so yeah, I do fear of losing my business," Ellice Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman owns Salon Oasis on Academy just north of Woodmen.

She said past road construction near her business has proved detrimental to her pocketbook and she worries the Woodmen Road Improvement Project will bring the same.

"They (clients) can go anywhere to get their hair done, and if they are frustrated with the project they will go elsewhere to get their hair done," Zimmerman said.

City of Colorado Springs officials said they understand Zimmerman and other business owners' concerns, but add the construction has to be done to add to the mobility of the city.

Officials said they did take business owners worries into consideration when planning the project.

"We have been talking with business owners for the past six to eight years to develop solutions and sort this out, and we will continue to do that throughout construction," city senior civil engineer Dan Krueger said.

Krueger said the city will post detour signs where necessary and will do their best to keep the lane changes to a minimum.

"We encourage people to continue to use Academy and Woodmen throughout construction. It may be a little slower at times but we are maintaining all of the traffic lanes throughout construction," Krueger said.

As for Salon Oasis, Zimmerman said the city's words are not enough to put her at ease and added she will do whatever it takes to keep customers coming in the door.

The city has a public meeting scheduled for the end of September.

To learn more about that and the project click here.