Ongoing downtown construction cuts off 2 businesses

Construction in downtown Calgary has completely cut off two businesses from vehicle traffic.

Work started Friday morning that will shut down the 4th Avenue flyover for the long weekend.

Two businesses on Third Street S.E., Booker's Bar and Crab Shack and Dog City Day Care, were already feeling isolated due to construction in the area.

One end of 3rd Street was closed at Riverfront Avenue on Sept. 17 for construction work and the flyover was the only way drivers could get to the bar and the dog daycare.

Now drivers will have to park along Riverfront Avenue and walk around the block.

Lance Hurtubise of Booker's said construction has already caused a 60 per cent drop in business and he isn't happy about the added inconvenience on Valentine's Day, one of the busiest days of the year in the restaurant trade.

"We were told it was going to be closed for three weeks. It's been closed for five months. We were told we were going to get a road ramp, guaranteed. We never got that. We were told staircase down. We never got that," Hurtubise said.

Next door, Steven Saretsky of Dog City Day Care, said his business dropped 30 per cent.

"We're very nervous that not only have we lost customer access, but we'll be losing access to the fire, police and ambulance services," he said.

The city has promised a temporary ramp for emergency vehicles will be put in for the weekend and there will be free street parking on 4th Avenue during that time.