Owners of a Turner Valley glass company say the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the only cause for lost revenue during what’s typically their busiest season.
The Sunset Boulevard business is one of many impacted by construction on the busy street as crews work to replace wastewater and storm water lines, sidewalks and rebuild the road in a $4 million, four-month-long project.
Turner Valley Town council approved the project in its 2021 capital budget, which will replace what’s believed to be 90-year-old pipes and add storm drainage for nearby Gooding Lane.
Shelley Smith, who owns High Country Glassworks with husband Greg, said much of their business comes from motorists passing by.
“We usually get quite a few people just driving by pop in, but now they’re not driving by,” she said. “They are just travelling through (the detours) and not stopping at local businesses.”
While the couple heard rumblings about the construction in previous months, it wasn’t until just days before work began on May 3 that they received a letter from the Town with information about the project.
Smith said Greg immediately contacted the Town and, within minutes, an employee dropped by to address their concerns, such as creating a temporary walkway to provide access to the front of the shop during construction.
“They said, ‘what do you need done to make this the best possible scenario?’” said Smith. “They were very helpful.”
Across the highway is Eau Claire Distillery, known for its locally-crafted award-winning spirits that draw large crowds in the warmer months, which is also facing a double whammy with the recent COVID-19 restrictions and construction of Sunset Blvd.
Founder David Farran admits that scheduling the construction during a pandemic when occupancy is limited is the best-case scenario for his business, but, like the Smiths, it comes with its challenges.
“We will have to have some kind of measures to make sure that people can get in, whether it be planks or something,” he said, adding Eau Claire is currently open for sales, but seating and tours are prohibited due to current regulations. “We have four buildings on Sunset Blvd and all of those have restricted access right now.”
Farran said while he understands the need for construction, it can’t go beyond the projected finish date of June 19 for the first phase, which is runs from Main Street west to Hubert Street.
“When we come out of the pandemic we desperately need to be open,” he said. “Any delays would be detrimental to us.”
The second phase of construction is Hubert Street to Robert Street, scheduled June 21 to Aug. 5, and the third phase is Robert Street west past John Street, which should be complete on Sept. 11, according to Town documentation.
Once the underground work is complete, a single layer of asphalt will be placed. A final layer will be added in September for the entire street, restricting all traffic and parking on the road temporarily.
Farran said the parking lot he recently had built behind his distillery will give customers a place to park, but he’s worried tourists won’t know he’s open for business when passing through.
“We would like maybe some signage to show that we’re open because when people drive in and see all of the construction on Sunset it’s pretty intimating,” he said. “All of the businesses that are affected, if we could have some kind of sign saying how to access our businesses and that we’re open, or not, right at the intersection so people can make a choice of where to park, how to access us and know that we’re still open for businesses.”
Merchants aren’t the only ones facing challenges during the construction. Several residents living along the detour route have been posting concerns on social media about speeding traffic.
Monique LeBlanc, Turner Valley community services and business development manager, said municipal enforcement is partnering with the RCMP to assist with patrolling the detour route.
“We have installed additional signage, speed signage, as well as a sensor which is measuring the number of vehicles, their speed and the peak period dates and times,” she said. “That will help us adjust our enforcement plan accordingly, if needed,” she said.
LeBlanc said the Town is in talks with Alberta Transportation about reducing the speed limits on the detour route, which is currently 40 km/hr.
During weekends, when traffic is busiest, flaggers will be on site directing vehicles and enforcement by community peace officers and RCMP will increase, said LeBlanc.
Turner Valley RCMP Staff Sgt. Laura Akitt said the detachment will respond to complaints as they come.
“If they have major concerns, contact bylaw and or us to let us know,” she said. “All we need is the licence plate number if they’re willing to provide statements regarding driving patterns. We might do some static stuff around there periodically, depending on call volumes.”
Smith, who lives on Edgar Avenue along the detour route, said she’s noticed several speeding motorists zipping down the road or impatiently trying to get around her while she’s backing into her driveway, and she’s concerned.
“We have kids playing hockey on the street – I bet there are 30 kids on our one block,” she said. “We have to live like this for the rest of the summer.”
To learn more about the construction, visit turnervalley.ca
