By Scott Sullivan
Editor
No one likes road construction — until it’s over. Some Blue Star Highway businesses affected by roundabout building at Old Allegan Road das the tourist season starts feel the pinch acutely.
“We anticipated most, but not all of that,” said Saugatuck Township manager Daniel DeFranco. “Now we have to deal with it.”
One bump has been the Allegan County Road Commission extending milling north beyond the entrance to Capizzo Gallery, 3279 Blue Star, not shown in first plans.
“I don’t get it,” said James Bowen, splitting time between Framing for Friends in Douglas and Capizzo April 16 while owner Nick Cappelletti was out of town.
“The road commission helped us push aside barriers for our Willy Tea Taylor concert last Saturday,” Bowen said, “but they’re mostly back there. We have a whole season coming up.”
ACRC highway engineer Ryan Kemppainen said his crews were aware of the situation, cars had access to and from Capizzo, plus signage the business was open should mitigate those concerns.
“Would you be happy with this?” asked Cappelletti Monday. DeFranco said parties involved were scheduled to meet later on that day.
“July’s a big month for us,” said Pennyroyal Café and Provisions owner Missy Corey, noting work is expected to run through July 27. “Road-access limits are part of such projects but stand to hurt us.”
“There are many players involved,” said the township manager. “Us, the road commission, State of Michigan (from which most of the project’s $1.5-million funding comes), Saugatuck city, police, fire department, Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau and of course residents, businesses, taxpayers …
“Communicating better, understanding each other’s needs, will be key to smoother roads now and ahead,” he said.
Parties met April 16 in the township hall towards achieving that. Efforts are underway, said DeFranco after, to assure partial Blue Star barricades now in place at 134th Avenue, Maple, North and Lake streets assure motorists — many of them out-of-town tourists — the highway is open from north and south ends to shops.
Among challenges: Maple Street, the nearest local north-south detour/access road, is narrow and in poor condition.
“The state doesn’t want it used by commercial trucks,” said DeFranco. “Their official north-south detour is I-196 between Exits 41 and 36.
“Locals and others will know Maple is an option,” he went on. “We agreed at meeting to add more 25mph speed limit signs and increase Allegan County Sheriff’s patrol presence there there.”
“We can help with awareness too,” said CVB head Lisa Mize, whose bureau markets especially to tourists more apt to navigate via social media and popular website maps.
“The road commission knows the work is disruptive and wants to cooperate its best,” Mize continued. “We’ll push out maps to lodging members and shops all along the stretch.”
“I’m hoping to open by mid-May,” said Eric Peterson, working April 16 inside his soon-to-be Retro Bakery, accessible at 3217 Blue Star from southern crossroad entries.
The building, which long served as office for this newspaper and was last occupied by Massa Body, will also host Dream Bigg Development, which operates local Biggby Coffee shops.
“I’m happy the roundabout’s happening,” said Peterson. “Better traffic flow, smoother roads …
“I can’t wait till it’s done,” he said.
