Dragging road project hurting local community

MYSTIC, Conn. (WTNH) -- Local business owners along West Main Street in Mystic say a road project has been bad for business.

Residents want to know when the project, that seems to be dragging on, will finally be finished.

"It's been pretty devastating to a lot of us down here," said Donna Williston of Finer Line Gallery and Framers of the Lost Art. "The evidence is in the fact that four of our shops have already left."

Williston says that construction, some of it right across the street from her gallery, is a road-block for visitors, like Dorothy Doogan of Stonington, who now thinks twice about coming downtown.

"It just seems to be one thing after another," Doogan said. "You know, they had the bridge construction and now all this is happening and it's difficult to park."

The project has been going on for quite a while. The new sidewalks are already in place while orange barrels cover up the electrical hook ups for the new lamp posts to be installed.

Stephanie Hunter says the sidewalk in front of her store, Webster Road, was torn up for five weeks.

"It was disaster," she said. "You really couldn't get in and out. I had to close many days."

The Mystic merchants hope to have July and August to recover. But News 8 learned the contractor wants a 34-day extension beyond the June 30th deadline.

"We don't feel that they qualify for an extension of time," said Mike Murphy, the Director of Planning and Development.

Murphy says the bulk of the streetscape project should be complete by the end of June.

"Also, I worry about return customers," said Williston. "You know public perception is 'don't go to downtown Mystic' and how long will that prevail?"

News 8 will stay on this story until construction is complete.