The owner of Signature Signs & Printing says business is down 70 per cent due to West Victoria Street construction (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

WEST VICTORIA CONSTRUCTION

Pair of businesses feeling the impact of final phase of West Victoria Street project

Oct 31, 2019 | 6:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — The West Victoria Street project is nearing the end.

Paving on phase three of the project, the utility work on the north side, happened on Thursday. All that is left is ultility work and paving at the far end closest to the Overlanders Bridge.

However, the two businesses in that corridor are feeling the pinch and not happy with how the city has handled to the final phase of construction.

Robb Lewis, owner of Signature Signs & Printing, is trying to make the best of a bad situation. He’s making a more visible sign, so motorists know his Signature Signs business and Craftsman Collision are still open.

“More signage would be better,” said Lewis. “Some [businesses] get four foot by four foot signs, where we got a one foot by one foot.”

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are the B.C. Conservatives digging their own graves?

17h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

Dec 14, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Lewis says final phase of the West Victoria project has been bad with little to no access to his storefront, especially more recently.

“There’s been four or five days where we’ve had zero access to our location,” noted Lewis. “Now with it being in the finishing stages here as well, it’s really difficult for my delivery drivers to get in. For instance, Purlator couldn’t deliver today because they had no access.”

The city’s capital projects manager Darren Crundwell added, “There’s no doubt they’re impacted. There has been a loss of access. Not full loss. They’ve had to share access at times, but there are only so many ways we can do that that work.”

There were issues with parked vehicles and machines in the parking lot of Signature Signs. The city has dealt with that problem. However, Lewis says business is down 70 per cent.

Lewis says the lack of access at times to his business during the final phase of construction has meant that he’s had to go out to meet clients. It’s also meant a decline in drop-in customers.

“We don’t get the walk-ins, where normally we get 10-15 walk-ins a day. I’m lucky to see one person right now,” said Lewis.

The city symphathizes with what Signature Signs and Craftsman Collision are going through. But it says the big impact hasn’t hit their business until now.

“It’s down to two lanes there, but the majority of the work hasn’t been in that area until now until we got to the end,” said Crundwell. “If you looked at other business, and we were in front of their businesses for weeks on end. I mean, it’s tough. It’s a challenging project.”

Paving on phase four near both businesses is scheduled to be finished Nov. 10. The end can’t come soon enough for Lewis.