‘Not worth it being open’: Businesses struggle during unexpected Regina Bypass road repairs

A little hole that’s formed on a bridge east of Regina is causing a host of issues for nearby businesses.

Traffic restrictions are blocking a large portion of the North Service Road which is under the Regina Bypass’ jurisdiction.

The road is closed due to box culvert replacement work, according to the bypass.

Read more:

• PHOTOS: Fast-moving storm turns Regina residential streets into lakes
• University Bridge closure has Saskatoon business owner concerned
• City of Regina seeks feedback on Community Safety Zone in Cathedral neighbourhood

Sherwood Greenhouse and Garden Centre is stuck in the middle of the traffic restrictions.

While the hole appears to only be the size of a can on the surface, Rispens said a large cavity has opened up underneath the surface of the North Service Road, east of Regina. (Philip Rispens/ Submitted)

Co-owner Philip Rispens said lots of the store’s seasonal inventory hasn’t moved because people cannot navigate the traffic restrictions.

“We’ve gotten calls, people are right at the barricade and saying they can’t get to us,” he said. “I’ve gotten text messages from people that it’s too confusing to get there now.

“With barricades the way they are, they don’t think they can even get there.”

Philip Rispens said the greenhouse is at peak inventory, and customers are struggling to get to the business along the North Service Road. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

Drivers are now required to drive past the greenhouse travelling east on Highway 1, take the exit onto the Pilot Butte overpass and travel east on the service road through barricades to get to the business.

Some of the traffic restrictions call for “local traffic only,” leaving a six-to-eight-foot gap for drivers to pass through.

While some customers have tried to travel down Dewdney Avenue to reach the store from the north road, Rispens said they have had to turn around due to mucky roads caused by the rain.

The greenhouse typically sees hundreds of customers this time of year, but Rispens said only a few have made purchases since traffic restrictions went up.

“It’s almost not worth it, being open,” he said. “We would have to close if this goes on for a long period of time.”

The bridge has had a bump on it that’s been an issue for years, Rispens said, and he doesn’t understand why it wasn’t dealt with earlier.

The manager of the Ochapawace Petro Canada Gas & Convenience Store on the east end of the service road has heard the repairs could take months to complete.

Elden Beaudin said many drivers heading east out of Regina continue driving to the next gas station instead of taking the detour through the exit on the Pilot Butte overpass.

The manager said about 70 per cent of its total customers come by way of the service road.

Elden Beaudin, the manager of the Ochapawace Petro Canada Gas & Convenience Store, said traffic restrictions have added extra costs to some of his employees who take taxis to get into work. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

“I’m losing money,” he said. “This was a good year, we’re making good profits and we’re trying to reflect it at people here.

“Now this is happening, I don’t know how we’re going to handle it.”

Beaudin said the gas station is down $5,000 in profits on slower days and $8,000 in profits on busy days.

The manager is considering dropping gas prices by two cents a litre to attract customers to travel the extra kilometres.

Rispens said the detour has added an extra 10 kilometres of driving for customers. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

“They’d rather save time than money right now,” Beaudin said. “Sales had been dropped quite a bit.”

The Regina Bypass said the repairs on the North Service Road would be completed by the end of August, but that’s all dependent on the weather.

“This box culvert replacement was originally scheduled to start in August but recent safety concerns moved the work forward,” the bypass said in a statement.

“Local traffic access remains available from the west via Gravel Pit Road and from the east via Brandt Industries.”

The bypass said repairs would be completed at “no cost to the public.”