BROOKINGS – Road construction happening the past few months along U.S. Highway 14 hasn’t been only an inconvenience for Brookings drivers.

Managers and owners of businesses along East Sixth Street say they know the work was needed, but this summer has been a tough one. Some customers struggle to get to their stores or are avoiding that part of the city altogether.

Work ongoing

Now that the intersection of Highway 14 and 22nd Avenue is reopened, some businesses are sure to see a boost in traffic. Others are still deep within the construction zone which often has backed-up, head-to-head traffic.

Work on Highway 14 from 22nd to 34th avenues began back in March and isn’t scheduled to be completely finished until June 2018.

The $17 million project has made it difficult for some customers to reach their desired destinations in reasonable time, managers and owners say. But the degree to which businesses have been affected varies.

Impact varies

Men’s salon Thomas & Company hasn’t struggled as much as some places. Steven Pofahl, who owns the business with his wife, Kaylene, said the business has been OK, but the construction is inconvenient.

“A customer will have who they like and find a way out to us,” Pofahl said. “Our customers have been really loyal people.”

Pofahl said they appreciate the regulars but have been struggling to attract new customers because of the construction. Thomas & Company hasn’t adjusted its business hours or specials.

Choco Latte Manager Andrew Litz said business has been noticeably down since construction began. The coffee and handmade candy shop is located in the Calla Center, along with Thomas & Company and Cherry Berry.

“We are thankful that detour (was) going right by us,” Litz said. “So we still get the traffic in, and we still have our regular customers who come in all the time. We definitely noticed it, but it’s been an alright summer.”

Choco Latte planned on being somewhat slower this summer, so the impact of construction hasn’t caught them by surprise.

“The detour adds some time to everyone’s commute in the morning, and we still have people who say, ‘We’re coming here no matter what.’ So we’re really thankful for our customers who keep coming here,” Litz said.

‘It’s hurt us’

A couple of businesses that have struggled are Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Cherry Berry. Both have seen the decrease in revenue and customers throughout the summer but still encourage people to stop by.

“It’s hurt us,” said Cherry Berry manager Kathy Salwei. “People aren’t taking the extra time to get here and maneuver through the construction.”

Cherry Berry has maintained regular hours and has been trying to add more specials to get people to come out.

“We need your business and support,” Salwei said. “I know it’s not fun trying to get through all of the mess, but we do appreciate your business.”

Across the highway is Perkins, which had seen business go down 20 to 25 percent every week once construction started. Perkins hasn’t altered the way it operates because it has fewer employees while South Dakota State University students are gone for the summer.

“It’s been affected pretty major lately,” general manager Bryan Haggerty said, about a week before the 22nd Avenue-Sixth Street intersection reopened.

Haggerty said customers can get grumpy, but he knew some of his frustrations would be coming to an end soon, with construction workers notifying him in advance of the intersection reopening.

Prior to that, Perkins had its westside entrance blocked by construction, and customers had to maneuver through the Walmart parking lot and between Culver’s and Advance Auto Parts to reach the service road leading to its lot.

Business as usual

Advance Auto Parts hasn’t had much trouble finding business, Manager Darin Janes said.

“We’re probably down a little bit,” Janes said. “You got people from inside the city who don’t want to go through the road construction to get out here, but you also have people from outside of town who don’t want to wander into the city.”

For commercial deliveries, Advanced Auto Parts has made sure trucks get out in a timely matter in order to get around the detours.

“Business as usual,” Janes said.

The early reopening of the Sixth Street-22nd Avenue intersection is sure to ease some traffic problems and may help some businesses feel like they are out of limbo.

The Department of Transportation wasn’t expected to open the intersection until Aug. 11 and instead had traffic moving through by July 23.