POST FALLS, Idaho — A labor strike by local union workers has brought several major construction projects to a standstill across the Inland Northwest, leaving local businesses concerned about customer traffic.
The Local 302 Union strike affects multiple high-profile projects, including the widening of Interstate 90 between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, the I-90 and Highway 41 interchange project in Post Falls and railroad work at the Highway 53 Pleasant View interchange.
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Local businesses say they are bearing the brunt of the delays, particularly those near active construction zones. Capone’s Pub and Grill in Post Falls said the unfinished projects have driven away customers.
“They’ve even closed the access roads into our parking lot later at night, so people aren’t able to even get into our parking lot, which has really hurt us as well,” said Chanda Miller, assistant manager at Capone’s.
The restaurant, located near the planned I-90 and State Route 41 interchange construction, depends heavily on tourism revenue. Miller said the ongoing construction has particularly impacted servers, whose income relies primarily on tips.
“We really rely on tourism to impact our sales. When the tourists come, they don’t always know the other areas and ways to access our location,” Miller said.
Miller said other businesses in the area are also feeling the strain.
“I know the local businesses just on this street alone have been suffering tremendously. It’s definitely affected us too, which has been really unfortunate for us,” she said.
The Idaho Transportation Department said it is working closely with contractors to identify alternative work that can continue during the strike, but acknowledged that major project components cannot proceed without resolution of the labor dispute.
“We’ve been working really closely with all of our contractors through this, a lot of them on a daily basis. We’re just seeing what work can still continue, how they can re-phase some of that work and try to hopefully not completely extend or miss deadlines,” said Heather McDaniel of the Idaho Transportation Department.
4 News Now has reached out to Local 302 and the Contractor’s Association multiple times for details on the negotiations, but has not heard back.
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