Valley Line West LRT construction plagues Stony Plain Road businesses

Businesses along Stony Plain Road say they are struggling while construction on Edmonton's next LRT line blocks their shops — and keeps some customers away.

Parts of the main thoroughfare are ripped up with some sections closed off altogether, as Marigold Infrastructure Partners builds the 14-kilometre Valley Line West LRT from downtown to Lewis Farms. 

Dennis Aronyk, who's owned Revolution Cycle on Stony Plain at 151st Street for 32 years, told CBC News he's lost significant revenue since construction on the line started in 2021. 

"It's been more disruptive than I ever would have imagined," Aronyk said. 

The road in front of the shop is ripped up and the cross-streets are blocked off, so customers must detour down 149th Street and back up 100th Avenue to access the building from the back. 

"Almost every customer I talk to feels compelled to tell me how much of a hassle it was getting here," Aronyk said. "I know that is keeping probably 10 customers away for everyone that makes it here." 

Aronyk said long-time returning customers are keeping the business going. 

Several other shops in the same strip mall have closed and are sitting empty with real estate signs in the window. 

Down the road at 148th Street, Theo Psalios, owner of Little Village Greek take-out restaurant, said he lost 30 per cent of his business when construction blocked access to his parking lot last fall. 

"It was slow, it was really slow, nobody's coming through the door and you have to adjust really quickly especially when you're working with perishable products." 

A stretch of six blocks from Groat Road to 139th Street is completely closed to traffic and pedestrians.

The City of Edmonton said Marigold has informed the public that the road is expected to remain closed until November this year. 

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack said the goal is to get work done as quickly as possible on that portion of Stony Plain. 

Knack, who is a huge proponent behind the west leg of the Valley Line LRT, said he's spoken to local businesses, who feel the company didn't communicate the plans as well as they could have.