Kennedy Expwy. construction to impact local businesses

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Many area business owners fear that three weekends of closures for ramp construction on the Kennedy Expressway will be bad for business.

Merchants along Milwaukee who endured construction this spring will likely become a detour for motorist trying to avoid construction on the Kennedy.

Chef and partner of Delux Bar and Grill is warning customers who had parties planned.

MORE: Complete Kennedy Expressway construction coverage

"It's rough," said Matt Fanella. "It's going to be hard the whole weekend. It's going to be rough on our customers, rough on our business."

Saturdays can be busy at Gerber Auto Collision and Glass tucked behind Milwaukee Avenue.

Employees say they don't know how the Kennedy construction will impact business but some are planning alternates for themselves.

"My drive in is going to be a nightmare, train's probably better option for me," said Madison Burke, Gerber Auto Collision and Glass.

Construction on the Ohio Street Bridge over the Kennedy will be down this weekend and next weekend.

"It's important for us to make this improvement to ensure the safety of the traveling public and so we know this is going to be an inconvenience for motorists over the weekend," said IDOT's Anne Scheider.

"There is not good weekend to do this, so you have to kind of bite the bullet and do what you have to do. But, this is a great city for mass transit, so there are solutions to sill come down and have some fun," said John Chikow, The Magnificent Mile Association.

Terry's Toffee is a destination business along the Grand Avenue corridor.

Owner Terry Opalek says as a small business owner with tight margins a weekend construction obstacle could a challenge.

"It's either going to be crazy busy, because people will be driving by and going, 'Oh, let's go there,' because people do (make a u-turn) on Grand Avenue when they see our shop, or it's going to be like a ghost town," Terry Opalek said.

The best alternative to avoid the traffic construction on the Kennedy may be to go by foot, or to go by bike, or to use mass transit.