The village of White River Junction is overhauling the water and sewage system running through the downtown shopping district.The Town of Hartford spending $5 million to modernize downtown White River Junctions’ water and sewage system. The work requires workers to rip up roads and sidewalks along Gates, North and South Main Streets.Businesses in the area have had to endure the construction for over a month.“It’s been loud and messy, but surprisingly it hasn’t been keeping customers from visiting and in fact, we had a great June,” Kathy Detzer, Long River Gallery co-owner said. “We welcome them because we’re happy the pipe is being fixed.”“It’s kind of crazy with the parking and stuff,” Marie Disdier, River Nutrition owner said. “But it hasn’t really affected my business, which I’m glad. It’s been pretty good still.”However, local business owners said the upgrades are much needed.“There’s been lots of situations over the years where there’s a leak and they have to shut the water off emergently,” Jackie Oktay, Tuckerbox owner said. “It never happens on a Tuesday afternoon; it always happens on a Saturday when we have a restaurant full of people and all of a sudden our water is getting shut off.”“We had a flood here last year,” Detzer said. “I don’t understand the workings of it, but I think it had to do with the aging water system. We’re thrilled, we don’t want any more floods.”The town says the construction should be completed by the end of September.When the work is done, the village will have new sidewalks, roads and drainage systems. Patrons of Tuckerbox are still eating outside, until next week when they’re replacing the sidewalk.“People are super patient with us,” Oktay said. “They understand. But it will cut down on our capacity for a while, for sure.”Until construction is done, more dusting and patience are required. “We’re all for it, we’re excited about it and we’re definitely looking forward to it being finished,” Oktay said.
The village of White River Junction is overhauling the water and sewage system running through the downtown shopping district.
The Town of Hartford spending $5 million to modernize downtown White River Junctions’ water and sewage system. The work requires workers to rip up roads and sidewalks along Gates, North and South Main Streets.
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Businesses in the area have had to endure the construction for over a month.
“It’s been loud and messy, but surprisingly it hasn’t been keeping customers from visiting and in fact, we had a great June,” Kathy Detzer, Long River Gallery co-owner said. “We welcome them because we’re happy the pipe is being fixed.”
“It’s kind of crazy with the parking and stuff,” Marie Disdier, River Nutrition owner said. “But it hasn’t really affected my business, which I’m glad. It’s been pretty good still.”
However, local business owners said the upgrades are much needed.
“There’s been lots of situations over the years where there’s a leak and they have to shut the water off emergently,” Jackie Oktay, Tuckerbox owner said. “It never happens on a Tuesday afternoon; it always happens on a Saturday when we have a restaurant full of people and all of a sudden our water is getting shut off.”
“We had a flood here last year,” Detzer said. “I don’t understand the workings of it, but I think it had to do with the aging water system. We’re thrilled, we don’t want any more floods.”
The town says the construction should be completed by the end of September.
When the work is done, the village will have new sidewalks, roads and drainage systems.
Patrons of Tuckerbox are still eating outside, until next week when they’re replacing the sidewalk.
“People are super patient with us,” Oktay said. “They understand. But it will cut down on our capacity for a while, for sure.”
Until construction is done, more dusting and patience are required.
“We’re all for it, we’re excited about it and we’re definitely looking forward to it being finished,” Oktay said.
