MONROE - Construction along the 8th and 9th Street corridor continues on schedule, despite some set backs, according to city officials.
But some business owners on the west end, where work began, have been under siege since mid-March, and fatigue has set in.
Restaurant owners Jay Rushiti of the Red Apple Inn and Mike Islami of the Blue Ox called the area a "war zone."
Rushiti had "high hopes" in April that the 40 percent drop in his restaurant business would be a temporary set back. Now, more than three months into the project, Rushiti said he is "not so optimistic."
The street is still closed - not expected to open officially until October - and his business has been cut in half.
"It's down easily 50 percent and for a good two months," he said. "I knew it would be down, but not this much, for god's sake."
Rushiti said he's lost faith in city reports about construction progress and completion.
"Whatever they say, it's not true," he said. "They said every intersection would be open, but only an SUV can get across. Building the (trail) bridge has been on hold for four months. My only question, my only concern, is when are they going to be done?"
Seeing two construction se backs happen within a block on either side of his restaurant has further fueled Rushiti's frustrations.
Last month, an old fuel tank was discovered during street excavation east of the restaurant, and DNR regulations for its removal were apparently not followed correctly. Construction in that area had to pause while the city rectified the situation.
This past week, an inspection of a concrete trail bridge abutment revealed the top portion was plagued with holes and had to be replaced, according to the city's engineering supervisor, Al Gerber.
That correction held up the installation of the bridge, which was being shipped in three sections, by two or three days.
"In the meantime, I have to make a living," Rushiti said. "This is getting serious - this is our business ... And by the way, you're not going to be recovered by what you lost. There's no compensation."
Rushiti had to withdraw from his original plan in April not to lay off staff during the construction period. Now three employees, with 3, 5, and 8 years at the restaurant, are waiting to be called back to work.
"It's temporary, of course. But they knew right away," he said.
The Blue Ox restaurant, on the far west end of the project, has seen a slight rebound in business, rising from 40 percent below normal to about 25 or 30 percent below, according to co-owner Mike Islami.
The evening dinner crowds are still down 30 to 40 percent, however.
"The town's people have figured it (the back entrance) out, and it's not as bad as (when) it first started," Islami said.
What is missing are tourists' faces.
"Usually, this time of year, we see tons of new faces; not this year," he said.
Islami finds it difficult to blame the downfall in business entirely on the construction.
"It may have more to do with the economy," he said. "I have friends and relatives with restaurants in different cities, and they are complaining of business dropping."
Still, he thinks the 8th and 9th street project would have been better if done in sections, offering relief to businesses along the route. Islami believes a partial opening of the block nearest Wis. 69, allowing some access to the Brennan's Market and Colony Brands outlet center, has helped his business.
But with "barricades all over," the scene still looks like a war zone, he said, and people don't know part of the street is open.
And the street isn't partially open, said Gerber, except for crossing at intersections.
"It will be open officially in October," Gerber said. "Until then, because of city liability, the street is closed."
The final stage of the project, laying the entire black top from Wis. 69 to 20th Avenue, is scheduled for - and still on schedule for - August and September.
But some business owners on the west end, where work began, have been under siege since mid-March, and fatigue has set in.
Restaurant owners Jay Rushiti of the Red Apple Inn and Mike Islami of the Blue Ox called the area a "war zone."
Rushiti had "high hopes" in April that the 40 percent drop in his restaurant business would be a temporary set back. Now, more than three months into the project, Rushiti said he is "not so optimistic."
The street is still closed - not expected to open officially until October - and his business has been cut in half.
"It's down easily 50 percent and for a good two months," he said. "I knew it would be down, but not this much, for god's sake."
Rushiti said he's lost faith in city reports about construction progress and completion.
"Whatever they say, it's not true," he said. "They said every intersection would be open, but only an SUV can get across. Building the (trail) bridge has been on hold for four months. My only question, my only concern, is when are they going to be done?"
Seeing two construction se backs happen within a block on either side of his restaurant has further fueled Rushiti's frustrations.
Last month, an old fuel tank was discovered during street excavation east of the restaurant, and DNR regulations for its removal were apparently not followed correctly. Construction in that area had to pause while the city rectified the situation.
This past week, an inspection of a concrete trail bridge abutment revealed the top portion was plagued with holes and had to be replaced, according to the city's engineering supervisor, Al Gerber.
That correction held up the installation of the bridge, which was being shipped in three sections, by two or three days.
"In the meantime, I have to make a living," Rushiti said. "This is getting serious - this is our business ... And by the way, you're not going to be recovered by what you lost. There's no compensation."
Rushiti had to withdraw from his original plan in April not to lay off staff during the construction period. Now three employees, with 3, 5, and 8 years at the restaurant, are waiting to be called back to work.
"It's temporary, of course. But they knew right away," he said.
The Blue Ox restaurant, on the far west end of the project, has seen a slight rebound in business, rising from 40 percent below normal to about 25 or 30 percent below, according to co-owner Mike Islami.
The evening dinner crowds are still down 30 to 40 percent, however.
"The town's people have figured it (the back entrance) out, and it's not as bad as (when) it first started," Islami said.
What is missing are tourists' faces.
"Usually, this time of year, we see tons of new faces; not this year," he said.
Islami finds it difficult to blame the downfall in business entirely on the construction.
"It may have more to do with the economy," he said. "I have friends and relatives with restaurants in different cities, and they are complaining of business dropping."
Still, he thinks the 8th and 9th street project would have been better if done in sections, offering relief to businesses along the route. Islami believes a partial opening of the block nearest Wis. 69, allowing some access to the Brennan's Market and Colony Brands outlet center, has helped his business.
But with "barricades all over," the scene still looks like a war zone, he said, and people don't know part of the street is open.
And the street isn't partially open, said Gerber, except for crossing at intersections.
"It will be open officially in October," Gerber said. "Until then, because of city liability, the street is closed."
The final stage of the project, laying the entire black top from Wis. 69 to 20th Avenue, is scheduled for - and still on schedule for - August and September.