KRTV

Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:50 PM
Updated: Mar 10, 2010 9:59 AM

Construction on 10th Avenue South is slated to begin on March 15th, and businesses and shoppers in the area are going to have make some changes. The asphalt will be replaced with concrete between 18th Street and 20th Streets, and the four lanes of traffic between 20th Street and 26th Street will become six lanes.

The News Station's Alex Grubb spoke to some folks about the impact the construction will have.

Katie Crepeau and her husband come to Mongolian BBQ in the Target shopping complex about twice a month, and even though construction on 10th Avenue South might make getting to the restaurant harder, it won't be a problem for them.

Crepeau said, "It's really good food, we enjoy the food, we enjoy the service...and construction wouldn't stop us."

The staff here agrees the construction won't be an issue.

Stephanie Deshaw, a waitress at Mongolian BBQ, said, "With the shopping centers that are right next to us, I think that helps a lot. It really doesn't depend on the traffic, I don't think."

Across the street, Sonic is smack in middle of 10th Avenue South and 9th Avenue, which will be used as a westbound detour.

Jon Tierney, Sonic general manager, noted, "We'll benefit from the fact that we have a rear entrance to our location."

Sonic has multiple access points and even losing 10 feet of their front entrance won't really change much, and Tierney said, "The entire project itself, I think we'll benefit in the future, being the fact that there'll be more traffic flow and an improved entrance into our facility."

Next door, C&C Physical Therapy isn't thrilled at losing more of their parking lot, with owner David Caldwell saying, "We're isolated between two buildings and one of them, since Sonic opened, has closed off access that we used to have."

With no rear access, patients will be limited to 10th Avenue to get in and out of the small parking lot, which will lose another 10 feet during the process.

Caldwell says they may have to relocate, explaining, "It's certainly something we're going to have to look at, especially as the project is completed as to whether it will force us to have to move to accommodate access."

As for Crepeau, nothing's going to keep her from her bowl of noodles. She smiled and said, "We like it here - we wouldn't stop coming because of construction."

Benefis Health System says plans are in the works to ensure uninterrupted access to the emergency department during the construction process, adding that signs will be posted to help drivers navigate around the nearby construction.