You may want to avoid G-Way altogether
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RICHLAND, Wash. - For those who drive it every day it may seem like construction on George Washington Way has gone on a lot longer than two months. For Richland business owners, it seems like an eternity, eroding at their bottom line.
Darin Warnick owns Greenies on the corner of Lee and G-Way. He said, "How much more could we be up, right? Like 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent?"
He knows it's important to keep people informed during the road work.
"The number one thing we try to do is keep our customers aware through our Facebook page. We try to update them as the city sends us updates," he said.
Darin didn't know about this update until I told him: all four lanes of George Washington Way will be closed from September 10 to the 14, off and on throughout the day and a complete shutdown from 8pm to 5am.
I broke the news to 10 other business owners who had no idea. Richland say's it's tried hard to juggle the construction schedule while keeping the community in mind.
Jennifer Nelson, project manager, said, "We've encouraged commuters to go around traffic as much as possible but you know we've also encouraged people to come down and visit the businesses."
Retail and service shops aren't the only ones feeling the pinch. Bar and restaurant owners I spoke with expect their businesses to take an even bigger hit once the evening closures start.
Fast food places are even offering road work deals.
Darin knows they've just got to hope for the best through the last couple weeks. He said, "They're trying to do their best to mitigate some of this, but it is what it is."
For many it's rolling with the punches until the asphalt dries.
Richland told KEPR that the full closure on George Washington Way could start even earlier in the day than 8pm during the week of the 10th. This will help the project is to wrap up on time.
We're told there will be no more cones on the street as of September 17th.
Darin Warnick owns Greenies on the corner of Lee and G-Way. He said, "How much more could we be up, right? Like 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent?"
He knows it's important to keep people informed during the road work.
"The number one thing we try to do is keep our customers aware through our Facebook page. We try to update them as the city sends us updates," he said.
Darin didn't know about this update until I told him: all four lanes of George Washington Way will be closed from September 10 to the 14, off and on throughout the day and a complete shutdown from 8pm to 5am.
I broke the news to 10 other business owners who had no idea. Richland say's it's tried hard to juggle the construction schedule while keeping the community in mind.
Jennifer Nelson, project manager, said, "We've encouraged commuters to go around traffic as much as possible but you know we've also encouraged people to come down and visit the businesses."
Retail and service shops aren't the only ones feeling the pinch. Bar and restaurant owners I spoke with expect their businesses to take an even bigger hit once the evening closures start.
Fast food places are even offering road work deals.
Darin knows they've just got to hope for the best through the last couple weeks. He said, "They're trying to do their best to mitigate some of this, but it is what it is."
For many it's rolling with the punches until the asphalt dries.
Richland told KEPR that the full closure on George Washington Way could start even earlier in the day than 8pm during the week of the 10th. This will help the project is to wrap up on time.
We're told there will be no more cones on the street as of September 17th.
