Business owners, residents and drivers appear to be dealing with Cobleskill’s major downtown detour, but not without frustration.
Long expected, the Route 7 bridge near Stewart’s closed last Wednesday for replacement.
The wrenching shift in traffic flow shifted drivers along South Grand Street and Mineral Springs Road, in many cases making a headache out of a trip to businesses near the closed bridge.
Some business reps who asked to remain anonymous described their trade as much slower. Others said business was fine, though customers were irritated.
Scott Kelley of Kelley Farm and Garden said his everyday customers are getting to the store but seasonal ones are having difficulties.
“We’re getting a lot of complaints that the signs are in the wrong place,” said Mr. Kelley, referring to the detour signs erected by the state Department of Transportation.
He planned to call the DOT regional office in Binghamton to adjust the signs.
“Maybe they can reposition them,” Mr. Kelley said. “I just want to let them know that things aren’t smooth.”
Tom Mailey, spokesman for Stewart’s said he had “the feeling that there’s a slowdown a little bit. It’s not easy to get there.”
Stewart’s, however, is taking advantage of the bridge closing to build a new store next to the current one.
“It’s timed to be done when the bridge is, so we’re fortunate that way,” Mr. Mailey said.
And at least one business hasn’t seen any dropoff in the first week.
“I was very, very, very nervous the past few months,” said Maggie Jackman Pryor of Carpets and Then Some. “But we haven’t noticed any change.
“As of the first week, we feel much better.”
But some people aren’t feeling better. Although the official detour is South Grand and Mineral Springs, many drivers are using MacArthur Avenue, a narrower residential street.
Cobleskill Police Sergeant Rich Bialkowski said the department received complaints from residents and stepped up enforcement on the 30 mph street.
“We’ve instituted a zero-tolerance for any speeding,” Sgt. Bialkowski said. “There are a lot of children along that street.”
Officers are issuing no warnings and handed out more than 20 tickets in the first few days, he said.
Sgt. Bialkowski suggested that westbound drivers use Mineral Springs unless they’re going to SUNY Cobleskill or businesses nearby.
Drivers seem to be dealing with the detours and delays, Mayor Mark Galasso said, though there have been some problems.
“Any time you push traffic off the main route, there will be problems,” he said.
Mayor Galasso asked DOT to change the timing on the Main-Grand Street traffic light to allow drivers to exit South Grand more easily.
Also, he said Economy Paving, the company replacing the bridge, may have it finished a week or two before the September 6 completion date.
“It’s still going to be a difficult period,” Mayor Galasso said. “We just have to get through it.”