EDMONTON- Frustrated business owners on Jasper Avenue have finally received some good news.
For months, business owners along the popular downtown avenue have been dealing with obstacles from streetscape and LRT construction, which is months behind schedule.
“It’s been a disaster,” explained Dr. Brad Basaraba, a chiropractor whose clinic is located on Jasper Avenue and 100th Street. “My specialty is neurology and anybody who is in a walker, wheelchair, is disabled, or trying to find parking, they can’t get here.”
De Dutch Pannekoek House opened its doors in early November of last year. The owners were unaware of the planned construction when they signed their lease and say they’re frustrated with how long the work is taking.
“A lot of people say it is hard to get here and they give us a call and (ask) where they can park,” said co-owner Mickey Van Den Biggelaar.
“It seems like it’s taking forever,” she said. “I think there should be a little more accountability, because I don’t think it’s going very fast.”
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. On Wednesday, the city announced the north side of the avenue will be open by the end of March.
Despite the announcement, Basaraba believes the city could have done more to ensure access to businesses along the avenue wasn’t impacted.
“From the early stages they should have had some planning where they could show some advertisement, we’re still open,” he explained. “Not made these sidewalks a road hazard.”
He believes there should be some sort of compensation for those who have seen a loss of business. But, the city says that isn’t something it’s looking at right now.
“I don’t think they’ve done it in the past, to be honest, and I’m not sure it’s a conversation we should have publicly now. I suspect that the city won’t,” said Jane Batty, the city councillor for the area.
“We are trying to get out of everyone’s way as quickly as we can. We are opening the sidewalks as they are completed,” said Paul Szczepanski, Director of Arterial Roads, Roads Design and Construction with the City of Edmonton. “With the north side here on Jasper Avenue we have had meetings with the businesses, we have taken advantage of the lessons that we have learned and we are also continuously trying to improve our approach and how we deal with the impacts to try and mitigate them as much as we can as we go forward with this project.”
After hitting numerous construction setbacks, crews have been working increased hours during the winter months, to ensure work stays on track from here.
“We have increased our work force by 80 per cent on site. We are also working extended hours – 17 hours a day, from 7am until midnight – and we are doing that six days a week,” said Szczepanski.
Van Den Biggelaar says she is keeping her fingers crossed.
“Hopefully it will be finished by (March).”
She believes, once complete, the revamped avenue will ultimately have a positive impact on her business.
“It’ll be more people friendly, more walking friendly. I think it’s going to be great once it’s all finished.”
Once construction on the north side of the avenue is complete, crews will shift gears to begin work on the south side. The city says that construction should be complete by the end of October.
With files from Vinesh Pratap.
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