Local businesses await construction completion

Despite blocked off streets business owners and employees say repairs on Wyandotte to damaged roads and water mains will help Walkerville continue to improve.

 

Chris Andrechek, 31, works at Biblioasis and says although the construction has slowed down traffic and despite the delays in completion, he doesn’t mind if it means the street is getting fixed.

 

“It’s been a nuisance but in the end it needed to be done. Not only is Wyandotte a mess but the water main replacement is important,” said Andrechek. “It was slower than a typical summer but it wasn’t terrible.”

 

While he approves of the road work, Andrechek said the city should have handled the timing of the construction differently.

 

“Infrastructure does have to be continually updated and redone, I think doing it across an entire street in one summer was a mistake and that it should be spread out to set parts of the city especially when it’s a main street,” said Andercheck

 

However a server at the local restaurant Omaggio’s Kildare House, Kayla Rennie, 19, said they have not been affected by the street closures. She says they have been consistently busy and the new street will help the already thriving neighborhood grow even more.

 

“It’ll turn out well after so I’m excited and so is everybody else,” said Rennie. It is a good uplift for Walkerville. Walkerville’s beaming right now.”

 

A business owner for 41 years, Ray Ryan of Pleasance Trophies & Gifts, says once the construction is done Walkerville will be “the best spot in the city.” However he said more shifts per day would have allowed the streets to open much earlier. Ryan said the city should assist small businesses who have suffered financially as a result of road closures.

 

“We’ve lost quite a few thousand dollars and the city won’t help us out. That’s the only thing I have against it I think it’s wonderful they’re doing it I think it was well needed but I think the city should be helping businesses like us, small businesses who have not been doing any business for at least 40 days,” said Ryan.

 

Despite Windsor’s economic struggle, the Walkerville area has seen strong growth with the help of programs like the Friday Night Lights ride and Night Market attracting residents from across the city.

 

Walkerville held a street opening celebration for Wyandotte on Oct. 10, however delays have caused construction to continue past the projected finish date. Construction crews are currently applying new asphalt and washing sidewalks, with the street expected to be fully open within the coming weeks.