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Businesses hoping for early finish on P. Trail project
The Pontiac Trail reconstruction project in Walled Lake is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 15, but city and Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) officials say the work may be wrapped up before that date. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)
The road construction along Pontiac Trail and Maple Road in Walled Lake is continuing at a steady pace, but merchants directly impacted by the road improvement project are still experiencing a drop in business and are crossing their fingers the project wraps up sooner than expected.
“Some businesses are seeing their sales go down and want it done,” said Walled Lake Deputy Treasurer Jennifer Stuart. “They are hoping it’s done sooner than later, but everyone has to bear with it until it’s completed.”
The project, which commenced in mid-July, involves a complete reconstruction, where the existing concrete is removed and new concrete is laid along Pontiac Trail from South Commerce Road to just south of East West Maple Road. In addition, an another 1,000 foot section of Maple east of Pontiac Trail is being replaced.
The project calls for curb and gutter replacement as well as a new traffic signal configuration installed at the Maple and Pontiac Trail intersection. The nearby railroad crossing has been removed.
Every business in the project area is open during construction. Efforts have been made by the city and the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to mitigate the detriment to area businesses. The city has erected signage stating that businesses are open during construction. DDA representatives also have visited individual businesses.
Jennifer Kaljevic, owner of Jenny’s Restaurant on East West Maple, recently contacted the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) to vent her frustration. Her sales have dropped by 20 to 30 percent.
“I’m very frustrated,” she said. “I don’t see them (RCOC) working out there and customers are having a hard time getting here.”
According to RCOC Spokesperson Craig Bryson, crews poured concrete last weekend and are waiting for it to cure.
“First off it’s not our crews out there — we hire someone to do it,” he said. “They poured concrete and it has to cure at least seven days. There’s not much you can do around that until it cures.”
Kaljevic added that the signage posted has been confusing some patrons.
“The two signs, one from the city and one from the RCOC, were confusing people so now, thanks to the city, the signs have been moved further down so it’s clearer,” she said. “I have a lot of loyal clientele who are figuring out how to get here by cutting through subdivisions or side streets, but the general public has been confused.”
Likewise, Casey Ambrose, owner of Casey’s of Walled Lake located on East West Maple Road, has also realized a loss in sales.
“From a business standpoint we’re down anywhere from 25 to 50 percent during construction, and that’s dependent on what they’re working on, when, and to what extent, but we’ll get through it,” he said.
Issues with businesses are being handled on a case-by-case basis.
“We had one complaint by Shuman (Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram) in respect to access, but we worked with the contractor to handle that, and are handling others as they arise,” said Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas.
The project appears to be moving along smoothly thus far.
“According to RCOC Job Inspector Mike Neering, they are still shooting for an earlier completion date,” Shakinas said. “Right now they are ahead of schedule.”
The project is scheduled to be finished by Nov. 15.
Bryson said the RCOC is hoping for an earlier reopening date for the intersection, but there are still several items left to complete.
“There is still a lot that must fall into place like curbs, decorative concrete, sidewalks and the traffic signal,” Bryson said.
Shakinas said work crews are now filling in driveways and unpaved portions before they begin curb and gutter work.
6 Responses to Businesses hoping for early finish on P. Trail project
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miad
September 27, 2012 at 11:22 am
Sounds like the city and dda are taking a reactive approach. The Shuman example illustrates this. Wait until a car dealership can’t get a car hauler in or out of their business. They probably shook Shuman down for an envelope to correct their own oversight.
Don
September 29, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Ummmm… Someone please correct not only me but also the article that was posted here in the SC about a month back that was all “everything is roses” when it came to how great of a job all the walled lake politicians were doing with the signage, visiting businesses and making certain that there was “peace, prosperity and a minnimal amount of inconveniance and loss of revenue” to local businesses impacted by the repair of such shoddy road work a decade earlier.
Facts being facts and history being reported here on the pages of the SC………. Appears Walled Lake and the road comission have once again dropped the(ir) balls and have stuck it to the taxpaying businesses that they claim to be soooo concerned about.
Said it before and will say it again………… The businesses that have been all but decimated but this complete and total blunder of local government and the contractors that they hire ALL need to be the reciepients of a massive class action lawsuit by all those (businesses AND residents alike) that have been impacted by yet another governmental blunder.
AJ
September 30, 2012 at 12:53 am
There’s no evidence of any balls being dropped, Don. And in fact, this road project is actually ahead of schedule.
Further, the fact is that the road needed to be repaired and there’s never a ‘good’ time to do so when it comes to business – and lawsuits will do nothing to change that! Every business that relies on a road to get to it will eventually be inconvenienced at some point when that road needs to be repaired. That’s life and luckily, most businesses understand that.
Don
October 3, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Ummm Sorry AJ, but the fact that you see nothing wrong with a road that is subject to 95% passenger car traffic imploding in only 2 to 3 years time is the same sort of head in the sand denial of problems that have gotten this entire country into the dire mess that it’s in. Fact that the original contractor well as those that approved their contract and sat on their hands as the road crumbled in nearly record time is deplorable. Please. Stick your head well back into your backside before you insult us local residents and the local business owners any more.
AJ
October 3, 2012 at 10:43 pm
“Stick your head well back into your backside before you insult us local residents and the local business owners any more.”
FYI: I happen to be both a local resident and a local business owner.
And you are the only one here tossing around insults.
Don
October 6, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Laughing my rear off…. And laughing at ya there AJ (a$$ Jack Off) as you got BONED by your local politicians and county road comission yet AGAIN….. We’ve been smart and moved our biz well the hell out of Walled Lake and all their political fumbling several years back, for reasons just like this. One word……… SUKKER.