Businesses in Coquitlam are suffering as major construction projects along Highway 1 create traffic snarls of epic proportions.
United Boulevard in south Coquitlam has long been one of the city’s premier retail shopping destinations, but Port Mann bridge construction, Highway 1 upgrades and a new overpass at King Edward Street have effectively put a wall between businesses and their customers.
“The construction has definitely impacted us for at least a year if not longer,” said Howard Blank, a spokesman for Great Canadian Gaming (TSX:GC), which owns the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam.
The casino’s revenue dropped 8% to $11.3 million in 2010’s fourth quarter thanks to what a company report said is “increased disruption related to provincial highway enhancements.”
Blank added that the casino’s Red Robinson Show Theatre continues to sell out shows, but roadway congestion has left fewer people at slot machines and tables.
Today, there are only four entrances to the United Boulevard area. Highway 1 construction has affected three of them in one way or another.
The fourth is a one-lane wooden bridge that connects Coquitlam with New Westminster, but it’s often congested due to nearby railroad traffic.
The situation has left many United Boulevard businesses in dire straits.
Paintballgear.ca moved into a new warehouse and storefront location off United Boulevard last September, and sales are already down 25% thanks to construction.
“We’re losing tons of business,” said Paintballgear customer service representative Melissa Ahee.
The story is the same at Cliffhanger Coquitlam, a rock-climbing gym a block south of United Boulevard.
“We’re down about 20% from last year,” said Cliffhanger manager Colby Appleby.
Area construction has even generated legal action.
Toys “R” Us Coquitlam filed suit against the province and Ministry of Transportation in February for land it transferred to the province for the King Edward overpass.
Toys is seeking compensation and disturbance damages for the land.
The situation has forced business owners to dream up new incentives to attract customers.
Eaglequest golf centre in Coquitlam is offering new range balls and bonus balls for players, in addition to a number of specials, said spokesman Dave Crosby.
The incentives have helped somewhat, Crosby said, but construction problems coupled with poor weather and lingering effects from the recession continue to create challenges.
“We’ve got the trifecta,” Crosby said. “We’re getting killed on three levels.”
Meantime, Boulevard Casino will host special concerts and celebrities this year, including Kiss frontman Gene Simmons and his family, to boost its revenue.
The silver lining for area businesses is that, eventually, the construction will end.
The King Edward overpass is expected to be complete next spring, though the entranceway to United Boulevard will be closed for 12 weeks this summer. The Port Mann/Highway 1 project is expected to be complete in 2013.
Eaglequest’s Crosby said it’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
“As soon as the construction is finished and that overpass goes in, we’re going to be accessible to the whole region,” said Crosby.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart agreed.
“When we’re all done this will be in the middle of the Lower Mainland,” Stewart said. “It is such an amazing piece of property as far as its centrality and the access it will have when it’s done.”
But one other problem has yet to be sorted. Coquitlam wants to upgrade the one-lane wooden bridge at the western edge of United Boulevard to reduce area traffic congestion, but New Westminster has yet to sign off on the project.
The bridge has been a sticking point between the two cities for years. At one point, New Westminster erected a barrier that cut off Coquitlam’s access to the bridge.
The proposed upgrade would be part of the much larger North Fraser Perimeter Road project, which would provide a continuous route from the Queensborough Bridge in New Westminster to the Golden Ears Bridge in Maple Ridge. Ottawa has already kicked in $65 million to upgrade the bridge, but New Westminster residents have turned down several redevelopment proposals.
“We’re meeting on a daily basis with New Westminster and TransLink to get a bridge built there,” Stewart said, “but it’s been a challenge for 20 years.”
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie hopes to have a more concrete plan for the project later this month.
Meantime, Stewart said the city is doing all it can to help United Boulevard businesses negotiate through tough times.
“But I won’t try to fool anybody; these kinds of projects do challenge the access to an excellent shopping corridor down there.”