Businesses along Third Avenue are struggling to survive as work crews reconstruct the street and replace an important water main there.


A half-dozen Third Avenue businesses say their revenues have dropped between 20 percent and 60 percent since the project started in late April. Of the half-dozen businesses contacted most have reduced their employees hours, and either have laid off workers or are contemplating layoffs.


Mike Crandell, owner of Mollys Family Restaurant, says he isnt sure he will be able to stay in business until September, when the project is expected to be completed.


Its going to be close, Crandell says. I lost $8,000 in one week when they shut down the entire road. I had four employees, and I am down to one waitress now and myself. Right now, I am down 60 percent in daily revenues since the project began.


While most business owners grumble about the $4.6 million project, Crandell is livid with the city of Spokane.


Its not the contractors fault, Crandell says. I blame the city engineers who planned this thing. They have the entire road closed on the weekend of the Lilac Parade, yet theyre not working on Sundays. This is my busiest time of the year.


My question is, why couldnt they have done this in two- or three-block chunks, instead of tearing up the entire street.


Tom Arnold, Spokanes director of engineering services, said the Third Avenue businesses face a tough situation, but contends that the plan the city devised for the project was the most efficient and cost-effective way to handle rebuilding Third Avenue and replacing the 80-year-old water main.


Were doing everything we can to mitigate that impact, Arnold says. The city, however, isnt offering the businesses any financial assistance.


Were going as fast as we can, Arnold says. When its all done, those businesses will have a brand new roadway that was sorely needed.


In the last three weeks, the block between Lincoln and Monroe streets, where concentrated work on a water main has restricted all but local traffic, has caused plenty of frustration among businesses.


It sucks, says Troy Alton, owner of Troys Tires & Automotive LLC, of Spokane. Its almost impossible for the customers to get here. You cant stand in our front parking lot and hear yourself think because theyre chiseling a big rock.


Troys Tires employs four people at its store at 817 W. Third, after already having laid off one person since the project began, Alton says. He juggled the hours of his other employees because the Third Street project has slowed business.


I am trying to keep everyone in play and not go under, Alton says.


Empire Ford Inc., of Spokane, says its business has dropped off dramatically, but it hasnt had to lay off any employees yet. The dealership already has held promotional events and off-site sales.


Its killing us, says Bob Schneider, used-car manager. Were down between 40 percent and 50 percent in terms of average daily car sales.


The Third Avenue Grocery Mart has suffered a 20 percent drop in business, says Raymond Bowser, who owns the store with his wife, I. He says most of his customers walk there from nearby apartments, but vehicle traffic has fallen off badly.


Bowser says the dust and noise from the project are minor inconveniences.


Bill Todd, the citys field engineer on the project, says that once the big water main is replaced between Lincoln and Monroehopefully by Fridaybusiness owners will see a big improvement in traffic flow.


Its going to be more drivable, Todd says. Were going to start putting it back together soon.


Eller Corp., of Newman Lake, the contractor handling the work, has been delayed in its progress by abandoned water and sewer pipes and old gas lines that had to be removed, says Todd. He says the city knew that some old pipes would have to be removed, but didnt know how many.


In one instance, work crews damaged a phone line that wasnt marked properly, causing about 70 Qwest Communications International Inc. customers to lose their telephone service.


Also, workers have found several contaminated sites along Third Avenue from defunct gas stations, he says.


We have to stop everything and take those hazardous materials out of there, Todd says. Were talking about a 100-year-old street here. He says the city didnt know how many hazardous-materials sites the contractor would find.


Crews have been working frantically to catch up and make the road easier to traverse, Todd says. Were going around the clocksix days a week, he says. It should get better once we get the water main done.