Local businesses have mixed reactions

By Jim Newell and Georgia Thelen
Review Staff Writers
Construction on M-24 and Clarkston Road continues to be on schedule for completion, state officials said, some local businesses have felt the pangs from the work, while others have seen the opposite effect.
“The M-24 project is on schedule and we still anticipate a November completion,” said Diane Cross of the Michigan Dept. of Transportation Communications department.
“As for Clarkston Road, we made adjustments to the project to allow for access to local businesses and emergency personnel, which requires the extension of the closure by a few additional days,” Cross said.
“Since we changed the east leg of Clarkston Road to part-width construction from full closure, we extended the duration of time to construct that portion of the intersection. They have until September first, but expect it to be open sooner,” Cross said.
Clarkston Road eastbound through M-24 is now open but still only single lanes.
And while road construction will improve traffic flow in the long run, local businesses must contend with the effects in the short-term.
Crates Coffee House owner Andrea Rank said that while construction initially hampered business, she’s beginning to see signs of improvement.
“It is affecting business, be we have seen an increase since they moved away from our entrance,” Rank said. “We’re doing our best to bring people in and we’re being creative with events.”
For Jet’s Pizza the construction may have hindered foot traffic, but the pizzeria has seen increases in other aspects, hiring additional drivers to help with orders.
“Business-wise it’s the same, but delivery-wise it’s picked up, so business has evened out,” said Jet’s Pizza manager Kyle McLaughlin.
For village businesses, the construction appears to have a played minimal part in regular business.
Staff at CJ’s Lakeside Grill in downtown Lake Orion said it seems that business has picked up: “People are coming down here (to the village) because they don’t want to go on 24.”
Baristas at ABeanToGo said that their regulars and the clientele from the downtown business and residential areas still frequent the coffee house, and they got a lot of traffic during the Dragon on the Lake festival.
But for drivers there is still a long wait before one of Orion’s main thoroughfares reaches its anticipated November 4 completion date.
“As of today (August 26), we are closing the M-24 median at Harmon Road. Drivers will no longer be able to turn through the intersection, but will instead use the turn-around/cross overs on each side of M-24,” Cross said.