Lexi Carlsen, left, and Caitlin McHugh cross Sherman Avenue Friday while browsing Coeur d'Alene retail shops. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Shawn Gust)

Shopping in downtown Coeur d'Alene may have hit a bump in the road. And construction signs. And traffic cones. And congestion on the streets. The season is starting out a little bumpy because of restricted access and parking caused by road construction and improvements, which have various roads temporarily closed or fenced off. Shoppers, as well as store owners and employees, have mixed feelings about how the process is affecting business now that the peak downtown shopping time has commenced. "I think that the timing of which they're doing this is just very bad timing," said Charlotte Botelho, sales clerk at Lucky Monkey Trading Company/Devin Heilman, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Are you avoiding downtown this summer?