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Wooster Road construction puts damper on local businesses in Rocky River work zone

Posted at 1:59 PM, Sep 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-06 18:01:32-04

A sea of orange barrels lined up, usually along busy Wooster Road in Rocky River.

For now the road only goes one way from Hilliard Road to Detroit Road as new waterlines go in. 

While businesses understand the work needs to be done, they're frustrated by the lack of traffic as people avoid the work zone.

"We're losing almost all of our pop-in business, people who drive by and want to come in and get something,” said Scott Totten, owner of Great Scott’s Bakery on Wooster Road.

Totten is still getting cake orders, but losing that drop in business comes with a price.

"We're about 75 percent down on what we normally see in a day, it's a big bite,” Totten said.

Since Wooster is a one way for now, Detroit Road traffic can't go south.

"It's dragging it down some of our business” said Joe Rizzo, owner of Pelicanos Pizza on Wooster Road. 

"I'll be ecstatic when this road construction is over for sure."

Some people have taken to The Community of Rocky River Facebook page, encouraging people not to forget about small businesses during this big construction project.

"Well, I heard that business was down and I like to support the local businesses, I know the construction has had an impact, so I was ordering a cake and felt I should order it from Great Scott’s,” said Brigid Steiner.

Some of this work is expected to be done by winter, although repaving Wooster Road could happen next year.