St. Joe Construction Hurts Business

Work to widen St. Joe Avenue on Evansvilles west side is expected to finish sometime in late 2009. But some businesses affected by the construction say they might not last that long. The project to widen St. Joe Avenue form 2-to-4 lanes will do wonders for commuters on Evansvilles west side, but some area businesses are failing to see the light at the end of the multitude of tunnels that line St. Joe Avenue. And even wonder if their businesses will survive. Jennifer Kormelink has worked at the Liquor Barn on the corner of St. Joe and Maryland since 1976. She says sales are down 40-percent, the worst theyve ever been. And her customers all have a say into why such a sharp decline in revenue. Tiffany Schaefer is the store manager at the Pet Food Center on the corner of St. Joe and Franklin. She says luckily her store hasnt taken that big of a hit yet. So far most of the construction has stayed north of Franklin, but after the first of the year its a different story. A concern that unites businesses on St. Joe to something more than just the street they share. The overall project will make Saint Joe a 4-lane thoroughfare from Diamond Avenue to the Lloyd Expressway. It will also convert the "y" intersection at Mesker Park to more of a 90-degree intersection.