Local businesses on South Salina Street have become frustrated with ongoing construction work being done in the area.
This is part of the “dig once” project implemented in by the city of Syracuse.
We go live to Steven Shoemaker who is in front of one local business that has been dealing with the difficult impacts of the construction, Steven?
(REPORTER LIVE)
Steven Shoemaker:
That’s right Troy, I’m here in front of Cafe Kubal, one local business in the area that has been impacted by the construction work.
The construction has made it challenging for both the customers and workers at Cafe Kubal to be able to arrive without difficulty.
(PACKAGE)
SHOEMAKER:
Over the past year the City of Syracuse has been working on a road resurfacing project called “dig once” to make traveling easier on drivers.
The initial resurfacing was not done correctly and was picked up once again on June 1st.
Local businesses like Cafe Kubal have noticed how the construction work has affected their revenue.
JULIA JAREMKO:
I noticed today specifically that in the past two weeks we’ve done over a thousand dollars less in business.
SHOEMAKER:
Money isn’t the only thing construction has hurt.
Employees at Cafe Kubal have had difficulties with getting to work on time.
The construction has made it challenging for workers to find places to park and buses have had to take longer routes due to the detours.
One of the cafe’s delivery drivers has noticed how the construction has made her job a whole lot harder.
EMMA HUMPHREY:
This street that I normally drive down to park the van, get everything in and out super quick, that’s blocked off and now. It’s actually become a part of the detour, which is super difficult because people are parking here because the street is dug up and it just makes it really difficult to do my job.
SHOEMAKER:
Cafe Kubal is one of several businesses on South Salina Street that has had to adapt to the surrounding construction being done.
JAREMKO:
It’s also just visible in terms of seeing the customers. I don’t see my regulars as often on a day-to-day basis in the past couple of weeks and our rushes are not as intense as they have been.
(REPORTER LIVE TAG)
SHOEMAKER:
I reached out to the cities Department of Engineering and they did not have a statement to make at this time.
The city released a press release back in May stating the construction is expected to take place for several weeks, but there is no exact timetable on when they will be finished.
Reporting live in Syracuse for NCC News, I’m Steven Shoemaker.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Ongoing construction has been underway on South Salina Street, located between Fayette and Jefferson. The repaving of the roads is part of the city of Syracuse’s “dig once” approach, which aims to provide safe and smooth traveling in Syracuse.
Fixing the roads along Salina Street has been a work in progress over the past year. The city of Syracuse sent out a press release saying construction was going to resume on June 1 to complete the damaged streets.
The construction work being done by Seneca Stone Corp. has not only been detouring traffic, but businesses along South Salina Street as well. One business in particular, Café Kubal, has noticed a change in their revenue and everyday customers because of the construction.
Café Kubal manager Julia Jaremko has noticed a drop in her café’s revenue ever since the construction started up again. Fewer customers have been coming in, which means less profit.
“I noticed today specifically that in the past two weeks we’ve done over a thousand dollars less in business,” said Jaremko.
Customers have been faced with more of a challenge with parking and being able to get to the café in a timely manner before heading to work. Jarmeko has noticed how the construction work has pushed some of her customers away and has also made some of her employees late for work.
“It’s also just visible in terms of seeing the customers,” says Jaremko. “I don’t see my regulars as often on a day-to-day basis in the past couple of weeks and our rushes are not as intense as they have been.”
The detours have not only made parking more difficult, it has made buses change their routes since they cannot pass through the construction zones. Emma Humphrey, one of the café’s delivery drivers, has become increasingly frustrated with the construction because it has made her deliveries and drop-off times more difficult.
“This street that I normally drive down to park the van, get everything in and out super quick, that’s blocked off and now,” said Humphrey. “It’s actually become a part of the detour, which is super difficult because people are parking here because the street is dug up and it just makes it really difficult to do my job.
Café Kubal is one of several business along South Salina Street that has had to be patient with the ongoing construction. The city of Syracuse says the construction could take up to several weeks but there is no exact timetable for when everything will be finalized.
