Roadwork Strains Businesses Across Five Cities

Businesses in Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio and Louisiana are reporting or anticipating access problems as road and infrastructure projects disrupt nearby streets. In Cambridge, business owners worry planned bus and bike lanes and construction could reduce parking, outdoor seating and customer traffic, while city officials say the redesign will make the roadway safer and preserve many parking and loading areas. A Milton thrift-store owner said confusing detours, limited parking and work at the driveway sharply reduced customer visits and sales during construction, though she acknowledged the improvements may benefit the area over time. In Toledo, construction on Arlington Avenue has made it harder for customers to reach a newly opened restaurant, prompting the family to offer free delivery and point customers to an alternate route. In Lafayette, a grass median replacing a turning lane is reportedly making it harder for customers and delivery trucks to enter and leave nearby businesses, with tire marks suggesting vehicles are driving over it.