SOUTH PORTLAND – A project to resurface Broadway from Anthoine Street to Lincoln Street, which began in June with a completion date of July 17, is now stretching into August, causing another few weeks of inconvenience for motorists and business owners on the heavily traveled road.

Project manager Robert Hough of the Maine Department of Transportation Region 1 Highway Program in Scarborough said the work has been delayed because there were a larger number of drainage structures that needed to be adjusted. The resurfacing work, he said, began this week, beginning at the intersection of Anthoine Street and Broadway.

“They are surface painting this week,” he said. “With any luck they should be done Aug. 7.”

The fact that the completion date was pushed back doesn’t surprise City Manager Jim Gailey.

“The dates for this project have been fluid all along,” he said. “It is not uncommon when they announce dates to have to post a reworked completion date. I learned that with the Hinkley Drive pavement project. It doesn’t take much to delay these projects.”

The work, which is being done by Gorham’s Shaw Brothers Construction Inc., was delayed because preparing the 1.4-mile corridor for the new pavement took longer than expected, in part, Gailery said, because the city insisted that two-way traffic remain in place along the construction area.

Hough said he expects the remaining work to have little effect on passing motorists. “We don’t have any detours in place. The local people know the way around it,” he said. “There will be some delays, but no more than usual.”

The construction has slowed some motorists along Broadway, and caused others to find an alternate route. Business owners along the construction route said the work has had an impact on their sales, though some said they are willing to take the hit if it means the road will be repaved.

For a new business such as Kids and Sports Optical at 740 Broadway, the construction has come at a bad time, said owner Matt Chausse.

“I opened up in February, so I am still trying to get my business going. This has been tough,” he said. “It’s one of those things you don’t count on when you open up a business, but you have to be prepared for and deal with.”

Chausse said every business in the complex, which includes JP Thornton’s Bar and Grille and Cafe? and Deli, Tuxedos on Broadway, Cambridge Coffee Bar and Bakehouse, Nail Co., Supercuts and Greener Postures Yoga, has had a tough go at it because of the construction.

“It’s really put a burden on all of us,” Chausse said. “To happen during the summer when I am trying to sell sunglasses has been hard.”

He has said because of the construction his optical sales have been “non-existent.”

Chausse said he gets five to 10 calls a week from people who when they figure out where the business is located, opt to head elsewhere for their eyewear needs.

Chausse had hoped to have the work take place at night, when there would have been less of an impact on his business. The state had offered to do just that, he said, but the city decided to lessen the impact to residents who live nearby.

“I am not going to close my shop because of it, but it has made it a little tougher to meet my goals,” he said, adding he hopes work stops in time for his anticipated back to school rush for eyewear.

Other business owners, particularly those who have lived through construction projects in the past, said the project has gone about as well as can be expected.

“Obviously it has had an effect,” said Dana Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Variety at 934 Broadway. “But not nearly as bad as it was when they did the separation of the water and sewer project. This crew has been as cooperative and helpful as could be.”

Shaw Brothers, he said, deserves credit for doing the project “sensibly and efficiently.”

“They seem to be moving the traffic as much as possible and have been cleaning up after themselves,” Campbell said.

This was not the case with the water-sewer project, he said. Campbell said he was constantly battling with the workers doing that project. At one point, he said, traffic was directed through the market’s property without Campbell’s permission.

“From my general discussions with other business owners here, it’s been about as good as you can get,” he said of the current project.

Lyn Marquis, manager of the nearby Amato’s Sandwich shop, agrees.

“Of course it has affected us, but what is good about us is you can get here three different ways,” she said of the shop’s entrances on Broadway, Lemont Avenue and Evans Street. “It hasn’t been too bad here. We have a pretty good clientele. They are pretty loyal customers who keep coming back.”

Marquis, who has been with Amato’s 25 years, said sales are down about 10 percent, but that loss of business is made up on the weekends when there is no construction on the road.

A lot of the workers, she added, have been coming into the store during their breaks.

“They got to do the work, so you have to just go with the flow,” she said. “People are still finding a way to get to us.”

As during the first phase of the $874,276 project, work will be done during the midmorning and afternoon hours to avoid the morning and evening commutes on the road, which, as South Portland’s major east-west connector, is used by 15,000 vehicles a day.

Because the road is used so much, it was due for repaving, Gailey, the city manager, said.

“We are very pleased that MDOT has finally put this back on their list to do,” Gailey said in an e-mail prior to the start of the project. “The road is very heavily traveled and is in dire need of a new surface. A short time of inconvenience will yield us a new road that will last for another 10 to 15 years.”

Motorists can expect delays on Broadway as the resurfacing project is expected to stretch into August. (Staff photo by Michael Kelley)

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