SPOKANE, Wash. — Drivers heading south on Market Street to cross the Spokane River will need to find an alternate route due to a road closure that began this week.
The closure begins at Wellesley Avenue and South Haven Street in the Hillyard neighborhood.
The detour directs drivers to Perry Street and Mission Avenue to cross the river, which is not ideal for local businesses along Market Street.
Many businesses on Market Street have reported a 50% drop in revenue, forcing them to reduce employee hours and operational times.
Timmy Lentz, owner of Mr. J’s Pizza, described the impact of the closure as devastating. Lentz said that customers are unaware of the restaurant’s status due to inconsistent closure notifications.
To cut costs, Lentz has reduced staff hours and is working from open to close himself. He said he is frustrated by the lack of clear communication about the construction schedule.
“One day it’s closed, then it’s open for a few days, or it’s closed again. We often receive late notice about changes, which leaves us in the dark,” Lentz said. He added that he has never experienced such severe disruption in his nearly two decades of running the business.
In an effort to attract customers despite the ongoing construction, Lentz has introduced special offers.
According to the City of Spokane, Market Street is expected to reopen to traffic in both directions by September 18. However, it wont be over then, because of finishing touches such as striping the road. The city aims to have Market Street back to normal by September 25.
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
