EDMONTON – It’s a project meant to make Stony Plain Road more accessible, but area businesses say streetscaping construction is hurting their bottom line.
“Customer count has dropped off quite a bit,” reveals Greg Downie, owner of All Make Vacuum Service. “Overall business is down about 20 per cent right now.”
The city’s streetscaping project has a portion of the road down to one lane for several blocks.
Crews are removing sidewalk, curb and gutter on the north side of the road before switching to the south side in August.
“It’s been a challenge,” adds Downie. “Parking’s an issue… And because of that, it’s harder for customers to get to us.”
“Right now it looks like they’re working on both sides of the street. From my understanding, one side is EPCOR the other side is the construction crew. It doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference to the people here because both sides of the street are being disrupted pretty badly.”
Some business owners are upset the city isn’t doing more to let the public know that shops along the street are still open despite the construction.
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Currently, two signs on either side of the construction zone notify drivers and pedestrians that stores are still open for business.
“One little sign on either end of the strip, that’s not really in my mind good enough. They should be doing a little advertising or something to help a little bit more,” says Downie.
The city says it’s working with businesses closely to address their needs as best as possible.
“We always just deal with the businesses as best we can, find out their particular needs,” says Nathan Stelmach, Supervisor of Arterial Construction with the City of Edmonton.
“Some have front and back access, some only have front access, and you just work out whenever you might require an access closure for construction as best you can with the business.”
He adds, whenever possible, pedestrian access is maintained.
Stelmach says the long-term goal is to make the street more accessible, and the construction headaches are just part of getting there.
“In a lot of these areas with a lot of businesses, and where they’re trying to enhance the walk-ability… they want to do the streetscapes,” he explains. “The businesses benefit in the long run, it’s just the short-term that’s unfortunate.”
The Stony Plain Streetscape project has a two year timeline.
“All you can do is do it as quickly as you can, keeping in mind the obligations you have as the road authority to the taxpayers, and everyone else, and you have to deal with their concerns as well,” explains Stelmach.
According to the city’s website, the project will focus on Stony Plain Road between 149 Street and 158 Street, including the side streets up to the alley. Streetscape improvements will continue between 158 Street and 170 Street once the 149 Street to 158 Street phase has been completed.
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