Businesses on Barnett Road near Interstate 5 are reporting a sharp drop in sales since the Medford thoroughfare was blocked for demolition of a bridge over Bear Creek.
"Probably 75 percent of my business just disappeared," said Max Lundy, manager of the South Gate Shell Station on Barnett Road.
Lundy said that as a result, the gas station will cut back from a 24-hour operation and will begin closing at midnight.
"Even the Chevron is closing at 10 at night," said Lundy. Chevron is across the street from the Shell station on Barnett, just west of I-5.
The downturn has affected businesses on both the east and west sides of the road closure.
Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene already has demolished the aging bridge and removed the asphalt on either side of Bear Creek, requiring motorists to wend their way through a construction zone to reach the businesses closest to the work. Transportation officials said the $1.7 million bridge-replacement project was necessary because the old bridge was reaching the end of its lifespan.
The bridge replacement is the final piece of a massive project that also pushed the I-5 interchange a quarter-mile south of Barnett Road. The new interchange opened in July.
Most of the concern has been for businesses on the east side of the closed bridge, where customers have to maneuver along a temporary dirt road, often after a circuitous detour. However, many businesses on the west side, including the gas stations and restaurants, have felt the fallout as well. For them, not only has the road been closed, but the move of the southbound freeway off-ramp and two on-ramps means many motorists no longer pass by their front doors.
"We used to be on a thoroughfare," said Jim Potter, owner of Rooster's Restaurant. "Now we're on a cul-de-sac. It's a real tough time right now."
Noting that summer normally is his busiest time of the year, Potter said the downturn will make it particularly tough for his business, which has been hit by the interchange move, the economy and now the closure of Barnett.
"It's like a fighter in the ring — bang, bang, bang," he said.
Bill Potvin, food bar manager at HomeTown Buffet, said business has been hit and miss over the past month.
"We have noticed a decrease in business because of the closure," he said.
On the other hand, he said, the restaurant was busier two weeks ago than at the same time last year.
"It's been like a roller coaster," he said.
On the other side of the freeway, Tom Hawkins, owner of the Dairy Queen, said the downturn has been striking, but not unexpected.
"We're down about 60 percent," he said.
Since he's been planning for the closure for years, he said it will be easier to bear.
"I'm anxious to get the road reopened," he said.
The Dairy Queen and several motels on Alba Drive may have the worst situation of all. They are immediately west of the closed bridge, but east of the freeway, so the only motorists who drive that direction are looking for them — or lost. The northbound off-ramp that once fed directly into Alba Drive has been closed.
Hawkins purchased additional signs that ODOT agreed to install to help direct traffic to his business. Motorists can no longer turn directly onto Alba from Barnett, but have to go east over the overpass and turn left just before the construction cones at what was formerly the northbound on-ramp for Interstate 5. The temporary road will lead drivers to the Dairy Queen and motels.
On the east side of the bridge, Curt Moore, owner of the Black Bear Diner, said, "We're down, definitely."
But he said the decline has been less than the drop-off when earlier interchange construction activity made it difficult to access his restaurant.
The three motels near the Dairy Queen have seen a significant downturn, particularly in walk-in traffic.
Moore said ODOT has been more approachable recently as it tries to post as many signs as possible to direct traffic to businesses.
"They have been trying to work with us," he said.
Not every business has been adversely affected by the road closure.
Darby Stricker, general manager of the Best Western Horizon Inn on the east side of the closure, said it's been only a minor inconvenience for her customers to drive on dirt for about 40 feet before turning into the hotel.
"It was a challenge in the first couple of days," Stricker said.
She said her hotel has been more affected by the economic downturn that has cut tourism statewide by 12 percent
The opening of the new interchange helped her business, which is being remodeled to take advantage of its new visibility to motorists exiting the interstate.
"The new interchange drops people off the freeway into our back door," she said. "It really helps."
Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.
