Making (Muddy) Tracks Shoppers Negotiate Mud, Machines To Reach Businesses Along Government Way, Torn Up For Widening

They’re braving muck, mud mounds and machines, but customers are still patronizing Government Way businesses while construction crews widen the road.

The $1.7 million project will give the length of Government Way between Harrison Avenue and Interstate 90 five lanes by Memorial Day.

In the meantime, businesses along the stretch ask customers to be patient as they weave around the streets on either side of Government Way to get to the storefronts.

And with all the rain recently, they might want to wear boots.

“We had our crews out there today scraping all the muck off the top of the dirt,” said Chris Bates, project manager for the city. “It’s just real mucky out there.”

Some businesses have taken the first month of the three-month project hard.

“Our business is down 60, 70 percent from what it was,” said Norman Ridge, owner of the Army Navy Store at 1620 Government Way. The store will lay off two employees next month, but Ridge said it could be worse.

“This is about the best time they could do this for our business,” he said. “We’re sort of right between seasons right now.”

But Ridge said the work will be worth it. The dust and dirt of the previous two lanes of Government Way made for many gritty days, he said.

Business isn’t so bad down the street at Duncan’s Pet Shop & Grooming at 1302 Government Way. Young tots oogled puppies Tuesday as assistant manager Terri Kaiser rang up customers holding big water-filled bags with little fish inside.

“We haven’t noticed any drop-off to speak of,” Kaiser said. “We’ve just got real loyal customers.”

But fewer folks have stepped into Earl Batman’s Pass Time Video Store up the street at 1842 Government Way recently. Though the store has easier access than some other shops along the stretch, “the road’s just mud,” Batman said.

“I don’t really have much objection to the work,” said Batman, who’s owned the store at that location 10 years. “We’re going to get progress eventually.”

Despite the recent heavy rains, the project still looks as if it’ll be done on time, Bates said. Crews poured cement Tuesday to set the curbs for the new roadway.

“I think that, overall, if the businesses can tolerate the slow period now, that I would think traffic would increase by 30 percent when it’s all done,” Bates said. “I think it’ll benefit everyone.”