BOSTON – Shops in Boston’s Charlestown say they are losing customers after construction began on Main Street. The stores are barely visible behind equipment and orange cones.
Boston Water and Sewer crews are performing much-needed maintenance on nearby pipes, but the warning tape, noise and construction equipment are impacting small businesses in the area.
“This was the first customer I had in two hours today, and I won’t have another one all day, I hate to say it,” Betty, a consignment store employee, told WBZ-TV.
“Some of us go bankrupt”
Things are moving slowly because the front door of the store is on a construction site, with workers climbing in and out through a large hole in the road.
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“It’s not even blowing now. You should hear the noise. They blow all day long,” the worker said.
“It will cause some of us to go bankrupt,” added Amanda Mitchell.
Mitchell owns two businesses in Charlestown, both of which have been affected by the construction.
“Nobody said there was going to be any construction,” she said outside her boutique, Place and Gather. She arrived at work and was surprised to see a huge hole by her front door.
“You come in the morning and there’s giant holes and the sidewalk is completely blocked from there to the corner,” Mitchell explained. “Customers, Freedom Trail walkers, don’t know how to physically get down here.”
Boston says they will notify residents two weeks in advance
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission said it will notify businesses and residents by mail two weeks before construction begins. Parking notices will be posted two days before work begins.
“The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) will be mailing notices to residents and businesses impacted by the replacement or renovation of our infrastructure (water, sewer and drainage systems) two weeks prior to the start of work. In addition to the customer notices mailed to residents and businesses prior to the start of work, the contractor will also be placing No Parking Notices on vehicles within the active work zone 48 hours in advance. BWSC apologizes if a business or resident did not receive notice of construction work,” said BWSC spokesperson Tom Bagley.
“I have zero heads up here,” Mitchell said. “This started last August.”
Mitchell explained that she understands the work is necessary, she just wants a heads up before she is greeted by a construction zone outside her quaint boutique.
“Just communication. We want this work to happen, we just want a timeline.”
