There is no parking on either side of Main Street on the block between 87th and 89th streets as the south side is excavated and the north side is used for diverted traffic. A block down, between 85th and 87th streets, parking has been restored on the north side, but not the south. The work has had an negative impact on local businesses, but the merchants are taking it in stride, knowing that it will also bring improvements to Main Street. (Richard McGuire photo)

Downtown merchants are taking the Main Street construction in stride, but some say it is causing a temporary drop in business.

The ones interviewed describe it as a case of short-term pain for long-term gain, noting that the sidewalk upgrades and storm sewer installations are necessary.

Still, after a spring of flooding and a summer of smoke, Jamie Elder, owner of the clothing store Unity Osoyoos, describes it has an “additional blow.”

“It would have been amazing if they could have held off until October,” said Elder. “I know winter probably wouldn’t have allowed that. For most people on this block and the next one up, September will be noticeably affected.”

His neighbour, Valerie Hoppe, owner of the clothing store Valanné Style, agrees.

“I would say that it has definitely seen a decrease in our sales,” said Hoppe. “We know it has to be done, but it sure would have been nice if it could have at least waited till October. September is usually a very busy month for us, but it has not been this year… The day the construction started, oh my goodness, there was just nothing happening. No people walking by. Just dead.”

Jim Dinwoodie, director of operational services (public works) for the Town of Osoyoos, confirmed that delaying the project to October wouldn’t have allowed enough time before winter.

“The paving plants traditionally shut down around Nov. 8, so that would have only given us a month to do all of the work and have it ready for paving,” he said. “We wouldn’t have had time to do that.”

Dinwoodie said the contractor, H&M Excavating, would like to be able to pave the parking spaces by Nov. 8.

“If that does not happen, they will make sure all parking spaces will be returned to a usable state (gravel) prior to the completion date,” he said, adding that the worst-case scenario would be gravel over the winter with paving waiting until March 2019.

Dinwoodie said last Thursday that the excavation between Home Hardware and Golden Chopsticks has passed road base tests for density on the ditch. This allows the contractors to build the road back up.

“Hopefully by the end of [this] week, if all goes well, it will be gravel parking available again in front of those businesses,” he said, noting that the exception will be at corners where sidewalk bump-outs are being built.

“That’s our plan, but you never can tell,” he cautioned.

Currently there is no parking on the south side of Main Street on the block between 85th and 87th streets, but parking on the north side has been reopened.

Hoppe said the situation was worse when there was no parking on either side of the street on that block.

“People did complain about no places to park,” she said. “Some of the people, if they’re not in good walking shape, they have to walk too far and they’re just not going to do it.”

One woman told her she tried earlier in the day and couldn’t find a place to park, so she gave up. She did, however, return to the store later that day.

As of Monday, the block between 87th and 89th streets has no parking on either side of the street as the parking stalls on north side of the street are being used for diverted traffic. Flag people are halting traffic as heavy equipment moves around filling the ditch that now has the new storm sewer pipes in place.

Sue Gerrard, owner of Dirty Hairy’s Barbering, said she doesn’t think the construction has had much impact on her business.

“I think this is just a normal end-of-the-season bit of a lull,” she said, as both barber chairs were in use and other men were waiting their turns.

“At the end of the day, getting new drainage, new sidewalks and improving the infrastructure is going to be worth it,” she said. “It will be a little bit of inconvenience for a little while, but it’s going to be great.”

Elder also tried to look at the bright side and he noted that other communities such as Penticton, Oliver and Keremeos have also had major Main Street disruptions as they undergo improvements.

“It’s just one of those things that unfortunately we just have to try to absorb as a business community,” Elder said.

And, referring to the tall metal fencing installed along the edge of the sidewalks, he added: “This may lead to the safest Trick Or Treat Main Street that we’ve ever had due to the fact that kids will actually be caged in from the highway on the sides.”

By that time, however, the fencing may be gone.

Meanwhile, H&M Excavating planned to start work this week on the realignment of the 89th Street and Kingfisher Drive intersection, said Dinwoodie from the town.

That project will allow a new sewage lift station to be built to replace the aging one at Legion Beach.

“One of the first tasks that people will notice with this project is the removal of the large cedar hedge on Kingfisher Drive,” said Dinwoodie.

This will accommodate the road realignment and a new hedge will be installed once the project is complete, he added.

Dinwoodie said both Kingfisher and 89th would remain open, though there may be disruptions where people have to wait a few minutes until flag people signal them through.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times