Road work creates havoc for businesses

Businesses in Black Diamond’s core impacted by work to install the community’s first set of traffic lights should see relief later this month, say local officials.

Work to reconfigure sidewalks and install traffic signals at the four-way stop where Highways 7 and 22 meet has been ongoing since Oct. 17. The area is closed off to pedestrians and street parking.

The road construction is expected to be complete later this month and the lights installed next month.

It couldn’t come soon enough for Craig Grillo, co-owner of Grillo’s Pizzeria, who has seen a significant drop in business during construction.

“Essentially it’s blocked off traffic and pedestrians from getting to us,” said Grillo. “It’s not worth staying open, but it’s not worth pissing off the people who do want to come here.”

Grillo said his customers, the majority who walk there for lunch, are struggling to access his pizza shop.

Those who are driving must use the alley or park further down the street, he said.

“Most of the employees who work in town will walk for lunch,” he said. “If it’s difficult for people to get through the front door they will choose somewhere else.”

Since the construction began, Grillo said the amount of money earned at lunch dropped from $200 to $300 a day to $20 to $30.

Parking is also an issue at the Black Diamond Hotel, where patrons are used to parking in the front and side of the hotel.

“We have lost a lot of parking in the area,” said manager Lori Green.

“All we can do is offer the back where we have the parking lot and they all have to come into the back door. They can’t use the front door.”

Green said she isn’t sure if the road closure and inaccessibility to pedestrians is impacting business.

“We are a little slower because of the time of the year,” she said. “We just had a Halloween dance on the 29th. It wasn’t as busy as we normally are. I don’t know how far people are willing to walk to come.”

Green said she’s heard no complaints from patrons about the restricted parking and pedestrian access.

“It is a pain to walk all the way around if you don’t know it’s closed, but people are getting used to it,” she said. “I think they’re more upset about the lights going in. They are not ready for progress out here yet.”

Bali Bling manager Vivian Wiebe is looking forward to the change.

“The whole idea is a good idea because of the traffic, especially in the summertime when we have our door open here it’s start-and-stop with big trucks, motorcycles and campers at this intersection,” she said. “As far as the noise goes it’s going to be much better once the construction is finished. It’s just a little inconvenient now.”

Wiebe said she doesn’t feel the construction is impacting her business. One customer last week said she didn’t think the store was open because of the construction.

“We still have a business to run,” said Wiebe.

Sharlene Brown, chief administrative officer, said Alberta Transportation and the contractors are doing their best to get the work done as soon as possible.

“Everybody seems to be on schedule and doing what they need to do,” she said. “It’s going well.”

Brown said she understands it’s been an inconvenience to the public and is asking everyone to be patient as the construction continues.

“We know it’s an inconvenience to businesses,” she said. “I’ve heard that they’re frustrated. Parking has been an issue since this whole thing started. The fly fishing store isn’t even open, but you can still access Esso and you can access the Black Diamond Hotel in the back.”

Brown said the Town is doing its best to keep the lines of communication open by posting weekly progress reports on its website.

“As long as we are keeping everybody in the loop and hoping they get their work done as soon as they can so that it has less of an impact on everybody,” she said.

Brown encourages motorists to be mindful at the intersection for the safety of workers and other motorists.