Getting in and around parts of the region is a real challenge these days for many as construction season slows things right down. A major road and bridge project by Dunlop Street and Highway 400 in Barrie is causing delays and confusion as the province works away on a new bridge crossing. The city has put up signs reminding people the many businesses in the area are still open but the congestion and detours often keep potential customers away. “So far what I have been doing is I’ve been doing a lot of social media,” says Yanitza Arredondo, owner of Tequilazzo restaurant. Arredondo has owned and operated her restaurant on Cedar Pointe Drive for the past two years. She says business has slowed down so much she has had to lay off two staff members. “Our customers find that it’s a hard way to get to the restaurant, so it’s going to be hard,” says Arredondo. During this latest construction phase, Cedar Pointe Drive at Dunlop Street West will be fully closed until late November. The Highway 400 southbound on-ramp will be closed until mid-November. Drivers say it’s a bit of a mess trying to get around. “Good job we phoned before we came because we would not have known before we got here. That would have been really bad,” says George Overton, who happened to be driving by the area. Some businesses have put up their own signs letting people know they are open for businesses. “We had so many conversations with people on the phone that couldn’t find our back entrance, because they are usually using the 400 as the exit and that is the intersection that is closed,” says Kerry Burke, owner of True North Yarn. Despite the signs, many people are choosing to avoid the area. “We are definitely worried. For sure we’re worried but the construction company and our landlord have put signs all over the street saying that businesses are still open so we are still hoping people are going to come through,” says Nancy Lombardo at North Side Barber. The work being done on the bridge over Highway 400 will accommodate its future widening.
