Budget Brake & Muffler has been severely impacted by the construction on West Victoria St. that started on Apr. 15 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

WEST VICTORIA CONSTRUCTION

Three months in, construction project has varied impact on West Victoria businesses

Jul 22, 2019 | 5:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — The first three months of construction on West Victoria Street are taking a toll on some businesses along that stretch.

Businesses say people are simply avoiding the area and going elsewhere to obtain services.

Doug Maitland is a frustrated business owner on West Victoria Street. He owns the Budget Brake & Muffler Auto Centre and is in the middle of the construction zone. He says the project has reduced business significantly.

“At least 30-to-40 per cent,” he told CFJC Today. “People are avoiding the area because of the traffic flow.”

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The reality of construction right in front of his shop is hurting his bottom line, but he says the City of Kamloops and Extreme Excavating have been good to work with.

“I’ve got no problem at all with the communications between the construction company and the city. It’s been good. Just hasn’t improved my business.”

Compounding construction woes for Budget is the modular housing units being built next door by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“The project beside us has limited our parking space and our accessibility to our bays,” said Maitland.

While some businesses like Budget Brake & Muffler are struggling during this construction, other businesses remain steady, and some are even up.

Andre’s Tire World is one of those businesses experiencing an increase.

“This month, we’re up about 20 per cent over last year,” said owner Andre Giasson. “We have a strong customer base, which are repeat customers, and they’re sending people.”

Andre’s Tire World says the construction has been an inconvenience, but its business is actually up from last year (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

Giasson says the pain of construction will be worth it when the $13 million project is finished.

“Very happy with the overhaul. We’ve put up with a bit of inconvenience, but the end result outweighs all the aggrevation we’re going through,” noted Giasson.

For Maitland, the one positive about construction is quicker service.

“You don’t have to wait very long to get in because we don’t have as many people as we usually do,” he said.