Dewdney construction causing challenges for businesses

Construction season doesn’t just cause delays and traffic jams, it’s also affecting local businesses.

The Dewdney Avenue Corridor Revitalization Project is well underway. While the outcome of the project is a beautiful one, Dewdney Avenue isn’t looking so good right now.

The street is filled with traffic pylons and signs that read “road closed.”

According to Grant Frew, bar and marketing manager at Bushwakker Brewpub, the signs are causing some confusion.

“It gives people the impression that Dewdney Avenue is simply off limits,” he said. “We’ve even had some customers phone and ask if we were still open during the construction, which, of course, we certainly are.”

Frew said with the construction, the pub has seen a slowdown in business.

“We’re hearing from our older customers that there’s simply nowhere for them to park,” he said. “There is a huge billboard indicating the free parking lot, but people simply are not seeing it, and that might have something to do with the fact that Broad and Dewdney are closed right now.”

The free parking is available at Dewdney Avenue and Scarth Street in the Yards. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

That intersection will open up again soon. But the Albert Street and Dewdney Avenue intersection will be closed for the project’s next phase, which is set to begin on Sept. 3. It will last around one month.

Construction in the area will focus on water and sewer work at the Albert Street and Dewdney intersection, resulting in that intersection being closed.

Businesses in the Warehouse District will be accessible from the Broad Street side of Dewdney, with parking available at Dewdney and Scarth Street in the Yards.

Grant Frew, bar and marketing manager at Bushwakker Brewhub, says he hasn’t seen Dewdney Avenue this quiet since the pandemic. He wants people to know that Dewdney and the businesses on it are open. @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/jVM6eLirJs

— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) August 31, 2024

He’s met with a few senior planners who are overseeing the project. They reassured him the project was on schedule.

“So that’s that’s nice to hear,” Frew said. “And the other thing they said was when the construction winds down in November, that Dewdney Avenue will be fully operational again.”

Frew said he even met with Mayor Sandra Masters to discuss the issues the pub has been facing. He said she seemed genuinely concerned.

Frew just wants people to know that Dewdney Avenue is not closed, only restricted.

“This has been really challenging,” he said. “But we’re trying to remain optimistic. Get through this two-year phase, and it’ll be beautiful when it’s done.”

Grant Frew said he hasn’t seen Dewdney Avenue this quiet since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Mark Heise, president and CEO of Rebellion Brewing echoes some of Frew’s concerns.

“We’ve had entire streets shut down for going on seven weeks now,” he said. “We originally thought it’d be four to six weeks. There’s absolutely no access from the street. It’s absolutely causing disruptions. There’s no way it couldn’t.”

He agrees with Frew that the signage is not great, which has impacted deliveries.

“It’s difficult to find,” Heise said. “Even just getting deliveries to the brewery, we’re taking four or five days extra of delays because the delivery people literally don’t know how to get there.”

These signs in front of Rebellion Brewing have caused confusion for customers and delivery drivers, according to president and CEO Mark Heise. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

He said his business has been advocating for the update for years and he is happy it’s finally happening, despite the current challenges.

“We’re super supportive of it,” Heise said. “Communication (with the city and construction crews) has been about as good as you can. But I’m not gonna lie, these projects are painful, and they hurt small business. That’s just the reality.”

He’s looking forward to the street opening up again and encourages people to stop by and try the tacos.

Rebellion Brewing has had restricted access to its business since sometime in July.

Rebellion Brewing has had restricted access to its business since July. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

City aware of challenges

Kurtis Doney, Deputy City Manager of City Operations, said the city has heard from businesses in the warehouse district.

“We are working with them to keep them updated as much as possible and to do as many things as we can to reduce that impact,” he said. “And part of that is sharing the message that of please go down and support the businesses.”

Doney said the project hasn’t seen any major delays or problems.

“We have lots of underground infrastructure that’s been installed, and there’s always risks with that,” he said. “But in general, things are are going really well, and we plan that project to be a two year project, and then wrapping up by the end of 2025.”

He said the city will continue to check in with businesses and provide updates and timelines as construction continues.

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