Cow Bay Road businesses struggle during sewer construction

Some businesses on Cow Bay Road in Eastern Passage say a lack of communication aboutconstruction projects is costing them money.

Kim Stacey, owner ofEmma's Eatery, says she didn't even realize work was underway until customers disappeared.

"Initially I found out because I noticed that no people were coming into my restaurant for lunch in the middle of the summer which is very unusual," she said.

When she checked with other businesses in the area, she said nobody knew what was going on.

"Nobody that owns a business on this entire stripof Cow Bay Roadhad been notified about a road closure, she said.

Halifax Water has hired Dexter Construction to install approximately one kilometreof storm sewer main along Cow Bay Road. The municipality is also replacing a bridge and upgrading sidewalks.

Business down 40 per cent

Stacey has been in business for eight years with seven part-time employees. She said her business is down about 40 per cent.

Other business owners are reporting a similar experience.

Tay Landry started The Passage Car Wash so his sonNickcould learn the ropes of business. Landry says the car wash and detailing business was growing steadily until the road closure.

They laid off their three part-time workers in August and he's expecting to close the business at the end of November.

Landry says he invested $30,000 to start the business, but now says he's barely making enough to cover the cost of leasing the land.

It's a stressful time for Nick, who says he's been sending out resumsfor the past two weeks.

"I take it home with me every day. I don't sleep any more. Everything on my mind is about the business, what I'm going to do next, what tomorrow's going to be like, he said.

Business owners have met among themselves to discuss their concerns and met with their area Coun. Bill Karsten and Mayor Mike Savage earlier this month.

Missed memos

The businesses saysuggestions were offered on how to improve communication so road closures and construction will have less of an impact on business. Since then, neither the mayor nor Karsten has been in contact.

Stacey says this isn't just an Eastern Passage problem. She knows of other businesses that have been impacted by construction elsewhere in the municipality.

I take it home with me every day. I don't sleep any more. Everything on my mind is about the business, what I'm going to do next, what tomorrow's going to be like.- Nick Landry

One of the suggestions offered was to give businesses 30 days notice so they could prepare for disruptions and inform their customers.

Halifax spokesman Brendan Elliott saysHalifax Water sent out notifications in July,but many people did not receive them so the city apologizes for that. He says a second newsletter was sent out later and a third will be hand-delivered next week.

He says there is a requirement for municipal contractors and developers to give 48 hours notice or, at the very least, 24 hours notice. He says sometimes lengthy notifications aren't possible because contractors may only find out they've been awarded a contract daysbeforestarting thejob.

"We're going to be revisiting that whole policy of notification over the winter months so that next spring we can make sure that we're doing everything we can to make sure people have the proper notification, Elliott said.

He says they'll be looking at all aspects of notification, including the time frames.

The current work on Cow Bay Road is expected to wrap up mid-December, but it will resume in April.