Construction impacting area businesses

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A construction project in West Springfield is starting to take its toll on surrounding businesses.

The state claims they're doing what they can to keep roads open while they work, but at least one business owner says that hasn't been the case and they're not happy about it.

Rt. 20 in West Springfield has looked like this for the better part of the summer.

The state is doing work along part of Westfield Street but according to some people, they're also hindering work at local businesses.

"When I went to the town, I showed them my financials for May, June and July. There was a drastic decrease in July, in the first week of August we've done more business than we even did in the entire month," said Debi Heacock, co-owner of Warp 9 PC, LLC.

Heacock told 22News as construction made its way to her storefront, business slowed and so did the construction.

Mayor Greg Neffinger says the project is taking longer than anyone expected because there have been a few unexpected problems.

"They hit a water main at the bottom of the hill, they hit a gas main that they didn't realize was there, they also found another gas main that was abandoned by they didn't know was abandoned so they had to go through the process as if it were a live gas main," Neffinger said.

Mass DOT spokesman Mike Verseckes told 22News the work has been going on for about 8 months now and they're doing what they can to keep businesses assessable for the next few months.

Meantime Heacock hopes business picks up enough soon to make up for lost time.

"We've made it 2 and a half years and in a months time, all of that could be gone because simply the road has been blocked," Heacock said.

Heacock says she and surrounding businesses will be honoring the tax holiday this weekend hoping that generates business.

Verseckes says the project should be fully completed in December.