LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Anyone who has driven down Grand River Avenue or Okemos Road through Okemos knows what an ordeal it can be. Some are avoiding the area altogether.
More: WILX news 10 live traffic map
Most drivers and business owners along Grand River Avenue say they welcome improved roads, but that’s not the reason for their concerns. The question is, when will the reforms be completed? From the pandemic to several months of construction, business is not as good as it could be, he said.
“Okay, we did, but yes, it’s a disaster. I think the numbers would have been higher,” said Brandon Decker, owner of Mercat Specialty Meats in Okemos.
Decker said the community kept their doors open during construction, even though they lost money.
“We have a really loyal customer base and I know they’ve gone out of their way to make sure they support us through these times. I think a lot of our neighbors are going through a lot worse than we are,” Decker said.
And Decker is right. Just down the street, Lotte Market owner Jay Park said he lost about 40% in sales. Their customer base is older and they have been avoiding orange barrels as much as possible.
Gamemakers say they’re safe this summer — people haven’t stopped logging in. Manager DJ McMillan said that’s because Grand River Avenue isn’t the only way customers can find the building.
“It’s probably a little bit more convenient for people to get to us, but we’ve got the Okemos in Hamilton and the Grand River and the Indian Hills neighborhood behind us,” McMillan said. .
But it wasn’t so easy for other businesses in Grand River.
Now, Decker is working with Meridian City Council Frank Walsh, MDOT and state representative to make Grand River construction a priority.
“Other corridors that used to have low traffic now have a lot of traffic so it’s not an easy road to get here and I know it’s difficult for residents and businesses to have so many different projects in the same community,” Decker said.
Business owners say 105 days of road construction have cut profits from 15% to 30% or more – since the peak of Covid.
To encourage foot traffic, the Meridian Area Chamber of Commerce will host Mob the Roadblock on August 31, 2022.
Next:
Register our News 10 newspaper And receive the latest local news and weather directly to your email every morning.
Copyright 2022 WILX. all rights reserved.
