Planned and discussed for three-plus years, the closing of Cobleskill’s Route 7 bridge will happen next Wednesday.
And although the closure will be a nuisance for drivers, merchants hope customers will endure detours to reach their businesses––especially in a weak economy.
Katy Mangan, project manager for the state Department of Transportation, confirmed that the closing date is June 15. It’s expected to reopen in early September after the new bridge is in place.
Merchants on both sides of the bridge are concerned that customers will find other stores rather than use detours.
To the east are Stewart’s, Justine’s and The Gables Bed and Breakfast Inn; to the west, Kelley Farm and Garden, Hess and Carpets and Then Some. Representatives from most of those businesses took part in talks about minimizing the detour impact.
Compounding the impact is that Schoharie County is replacing two bridges on the Warnerville Cutoff, which is now closed. The Cutoff would be a natural detour for Route 7 travelers.
The merchants’ talks brought about several changes:
•DOT originally planned I-88 as the official detour, but merchants asked to have Mineral Springs Road as the main route. DOT agreed this spring.
•Also, DOT planned to have signs on I-88 warning of the construction. Merchants, however, argued that drivers wouldn’t stop, and DOT agreed not to have signs on the interstate.
Cobleskill Partnership Inc., the downtown advocacy group, is also helping. CPI hung a banner across East Main Street urging customers to continue to patronize the detour-affected businesses.
CPI will also put up “Burma Shave” style signs along routes to remind drivers about the stores.
“The signs are kind of clever, just telling people not to forget,” said CPI President Brian Kaiser.
“It’s going to take a little extra effort to reach downtown businesses, and they’ll need your help.”
With Route 7 closed on the west side of the village, local drivers will find alternate routes pretty easily.
Many will take South Grand Street to MacArthur Avenue, which isn’t an official DOT detour but one that will probably be used most often.
Business people have stepped up to help themselves, too. Kathy Kelley of Kelley Farm and Garden said her business, Hess and Carpets and Then Some pooled resources for signs.
“We’re putting them at every decision point [for drivers],” Ms. Kelley said. “We’re doing what we can do.”
Businesses on the east side of the bridge, however, have a slightly different issue. In most cases, drivers will have to backtrack after reaching the business because the bridge will be closed.
In other words, there will be no drive-by customers.
John O’Donnell of The Gables said most of his business comes via reservations. But the 15 percent who would normally just drop in may not find the B&B easily.
“My concern is what we normally get through walk-ins,” Mr. O’Donnell said.
“We’re going to see what happens after the 15th. Our plan is to act like tourists, see what kind of confusion there is and see what we can do about it.”