Seward business sees 50% customer decrease amid road construction
SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) — Road construction on Highway 15 continues to be a headache for businesses in Seward.
The manager of Blue Bench Gifts said she’s seen about a 50% decrease in customers since construction started.
“It has hurt businesses; I think the whole town, downtown, has hurt,” Kathy Hartmann said. “A lot of people don’t want to even bother with attempting to come downtown; they just avoid the area altogether.”
SEE ALSO: Downtown Seward businesses looking forward to end of phase one of Highway 15 project
The Nebraska Department of Transportation is now in phase two of the project. Right now, construction is happening from Main to Roberts streets.
NDOT said the current phase of work is expected to wrap up June 30, though recent rains have caused some minor delays.
That will be just in time for Seward’s large Fourth of July celebration.
“They have promised that they will be done by the 1st of July and have everything cleaned up and out of here, so that we can be ready for the Fourth,” Hartmann said.
SEE ALSO: Downtown Seward businesses ‘make the best’ of inconvenient road construction
After the holiday, the construction will move north.
The overall project is one year long and won’t be complete until next April.
SEE ALSO: Lincoln restaurant owner says 11th Street project could force him to close
