Business owners say road work could do them in
Construction would make Veterans Memorial Parkway one-way
They say the project, set to begin in April 2009, could reduce the street in front of their businesses to one-lane, one-way traffic during construction, making it difficult for people to reach their stores and restaurants.
Currently the road has two lanes; plans call for widening the road from Sonderen Road to Highway K to three lanes.City Engineer Steve Bender said the lane reduction would last the entire construction season, about nine months.
More than five people who own businesses on Veterans Memorial Parkway attended the City Council meeting Thursday to tell city officials their concerns.
W. Illisa Chang spoke on behalf of Chinatown Express. Chang said the mom and pop business would be in danger of closing.
"We may not make it the nine months of this project," Chang said.
Gas station owner Roy Thoele said customers buying diesel for their motor homes or other large vehicles would not be able to enter his station if the road reduction went on as planned.
"I will lose 50 percent of my business," Thoele said.
Art Orlando, owner of Art's Produce, took it one step further.
Orlando said the lane reduction as planned would put him out of business.
Chang told the council the project doesn't have to hurt her income.
"There are mitigative efforts the city can do to lessen the impact on these businesses," Chang said.
Councilman Pierce Conley, Ward 2, said the decision to make the road one way during construction initially was made to save taxpayers money, because it was the least expensive way to make the road improvements.
Kevin Eisenbath, owner of Ethyl's Smokehouse & Saloon, said after the meeting that the business owners came Thursday night to become more informed.
Orlando said he didn't know the project was being planned until other business owners let him know.
"Nobody contacted me, nobody," Orlando said.
Bender said the city has been trying to keep business owners apprised of the situation.
"Approximately three months ago there was a public meeting. Since that time we sent out mailings and followed up with phone calls with them," Bender said.
Bender said the lane reduction as planned would allow motorists to go east from Highway K to Sonderen Street.
Two-way traffic would be maintained up to the Aldi property, about a block east of Highway K, Bender said.
"We will always maintain access to the homes and businesses, but the way to get there may be different than now," Bender said.
Adding a sidewalk on the north side of Veterans Memorial and a multipurpose trail also are part of the project.
"Once the improvements will be done it will be a great benefit to the area," Bender said.
Bender said the plans for Veterans Memorial Parkway are still evolving, and input from the business owners who will be affected will be taken into consideration.
"This is still in the planning stages and we are meeting with the residents and businesses out there as we come up with the final plan," Bender said.
The business owners who attended Thursday's meeting said they are not giving up.
"We have hope the city of O'Fallon will work with us," Chang said.
