You CAN get here from there.
That’s the message Cobleskill-area businesses want their customers to understand when the Route 7 and Warnerville Cutoff bridges are closed this spring and summer.
The group dealing with the bridge closures and traffic detours met Thursday to consider ways of lessening the economic impact of the two projects.
Schoharie County expects to close the cutoff in March or April, when a contractor begins replacing the two bridges there.
The state Department of Transportation will close Route 7 this summer to replace the bridge by Stewart’s.
Each route can serve as a detour for the other––but not when both are closed.
Already planning for the closures for months, the committee is more concerned now as the dates grow near. Members reached two decisions Thursday:
•Ask Assemblyman Pete Lopez and Senator Jim Seward whether they can help adjust the construction schedules so the projects aren’t simultaneous.
•Ask DOT to alter proposed detour signs to make it clear businesses are open even if roads are closed.
•Buy banners to hang across Route 7 indicating businesses are open.
•Have businesses create their own signs to attract customers through detours.
Even though the projects have been bid or are out to bid for contractors, committee members felt they had nothing to lose by seeing if one could be postponed.
“Why not? I think we ought to try,” said Chamber of Commerce President Anne Myers at Thursday’s meeting.
Brian Kaiser, president of the downtown advocacy group Cobleskill Partnership Inc. and also representing SUNY Cobleskill, agreed with Dr. Myers.
“Let’s be more insistent and compel these people to come back to the table,” Mr. Kaiser said.
Agreeing that there’s nothing to lose by asking, others pointed out that losing customers in already difficult economic times would be a blow.
Dr. Myers brought proposals of DOT’s detour signs to the meeting, and most believed they needed work.
John O’Donnell, owner of The Gables Inn on West Main, noted that a detour sign at Main and Grand streets––Cobleskill’s central intersection––will detour westbound drivers down South Grand, away from his business, Justine’s Restaurant, Stewart’s and others.
“We’re in sort of a Death Valley there,” Mr. O’Donnell said. “People will be told to turn left.”
As proposed, DOT’s signs don’t indicate that businesses are open on West Main––and therefore, no reason to drive there––other committee members said.
On some roads, a proposed DOT sign reads that routes 7 and 10 are “closed ½ mile past SUNY Cobleskill” and then a later sign reads “All businesses on 7 and 10 accessible.”
Mr. Kaiser argued that the “accessible” sign should come first.
Kathy Kelley of Kelley Farm and Garden on West Main agreed.
“If I see a ‘road closed’ sign, I’m not going to continue,” Ms. Kelley said. “I’m going to turn around.”
One DOT proposed sign––“Bridge out ½ mile ahead. “Local traffic only.”––is more customer-friendly than “Road closed,” Dr. Myers pointed out.
Mr. Kaiser suggested that CPI could buy the banners to hang across Route 7. Each would cost about $800, he said.
One could hang across Route 7 near the college, and another could hang across West Main near the Main-Grand street intersection.
Committee members said they should list specific businesses.
“If they’re not specific, you won’t get drive-by customers,” said Gene DeMarco, who was representing the Town of Richmondville at the meeting.
“That would help,” Mr. O’Donnell said of the banners. “We miss drive-by customers if they’re directed away.”
Most business owners at Thursday’s meeting agreed that they’d also erect their own signs to attract customers
Mr. O’Donnell hoped the Village of Cobleskill and codes enforcement would cooperate by relaxing sign regulations during the bridge work.
Committee members also discussed a public relations campaign to draw customers to affected businesses.
Ed Sherlock of radio station WSDE suggested the campaign use all local media––his station, the Times-Journal and My Shopper.
Others agreed, adding that the theme might spin off the Chamber’s “Go Local” campaign.
“These businesses need your support now more than ever,” Mr. DeMarco said.
The committee will schedule another meeting in the next week or so.