Merchants along Park Ave. are bracing themselves for a major construction project that they say may affect business much the way it did on St. Laurent Blvd.
The project, set to begin mid-July and end in 2012, will involve fixing the sewer system and water drains and will result in traffic restrictions and fewer parking spots.
Construction will begin between St. Viateur St. and Fairmount Ave., resulting in a closure of one northbound lane, clogging traffic on the busy thoroughfare.
Details of the project will be released Tuesday, but merchants on the stretch already say they're worried.
"This was given to us last minute with very little warning, so we can plan ahead," said Jimmy Zoubris, who owns Papeterie Zoubris stationery store on Park near St. Viateur.
Zoubris said he's worried about construction project similar to that of St. Laurent, which began three years ago and stretched over a year and a half after Gaz Metro requested that part of the project be redone.
It resulted in the closure of several businesses along the Main.
Some that survived, like Ben Franco's Libreria Espanola, never quite recovered.
"The construction it was horrible. There was no parking whatsoever," said Franco. "It never quite picked back up."
Zoubris said he hopes not to see the same issue on Park.
"I hope that the city has learned from their mistakes on St Laurent Blvd.," said Zoubris.
Costa Moumouris of PA supermarket said while he is concerned, the construction is necessary.
"Merchants will have to adjust, but so will the customers. It will be a bit of an inconvenience," he said.
Residents on quiet neighbouring Mile End streets say they believe the construction will negatively affect traffic in the area.
"What I'm afraid of is that all the traffic that usually goes by there is going to go by my street. But they have no choice – they've got to fix it," said one Mile End resident.
The city did not want to comment to CTV News before unveiling its plan Tuesday.
