Area business owners in Washington want residents to use traffic detours as part of Business Route 24 remains closed. They say the repair of pavement damage at a railroad viaduct has turned people away from eating and shopping in the area. Jim Linsley owns Lindy’s downtown Market near the city square. He says his customer count was down 320 people last week:
“It’s kind of been a double whammy. We’ve had a tornado now we’ve got the road closed. So everybody’s just concerned and I think worried and hoping we can get through this thing as fast as we can,” Linsley says.
The construction on Route 24 has taken weeks longer than expected because of heavy rainfall and new curb and gutter additions. City officials say residents and visitors can get to businesses in the construction area and drive to the city’s weekend festival following the posted detour signs. The Washington Good Neighbor Days festival runs through Sunday.