Special to IFN
The intersection of S. Tradd Street and E. Front Street in Downtown Statesville has been temporarily closed due to an infrastructure issue caused by aging utility lines beneath the roadway.
While this may feel like déjà vu for some downtown visitors and businesses, the City of Statesville and Downtown Statesville Development Corporation (DSDC) are working together with the Statesville Chamber of Commerce to address the repairs swiftly and support impacted downtown businesses.
The road closure is necessitated by a much-needed repair and replacement of the City’s sanitary sewer and NCDOT’s stormwater systems in the intersection, which will bring this infrastructure up to modern standards.
City Engineer Matthew Hubert noted that the work will improve the reliability of the underground infrastructure and reduce the risk of future disruptions in the area.
Both S. Tradd Street and E. Front Street are NCDOT-maintained roadways, but the city is leading the repair effort with DOT’s cooperation and support. While the exact timeline depends on weather and subsurface conditions, city officials hope to complete the work within 30 days once construction begins.
The repair project will be fast-tracked through an emergency bid process, expected to go out as early as next week, with selection criteria that prioritize a contractor’s ability to mobilize quickly and efficiently.
To support impacted businesses, the city has installed LED traffic signs that display “Road Open for Local Business” and custom blue barricade signage reminding passersby that shops remain open and accessible.
“We know this kind of disruption is frustrating,” said City Manager Ron Smith, “but we’re committed to being responsive, creative, and collaborative in how we support our local businesses through it.”
“We think of business interruption in terms of floods, fires, theft, and data breaches. But an unexpected road closure can be every bit as disruptive and financially painful to a small business.” added Michael Young, DSDC interim executive director. “The city can only do so much. We need to devise a game plan, which can be implemented at a moment’s notice, to help local business mitigate the effects of road closures, just as soon as it happens.”
According to Young, the plan has been broken into three parts: what the City can do, what the DSDC and Statesville Chamber can do, and what individual businesses can do to minimize the impact of road construction and closures. Once finalized, it will be uploaded to the DSDC’s online toolbox for business and property owners.
Liz Petree, community engagement manager for DSDC, said that between the Chamber and DSDC, their social media and newsletter campaigns reach over 20,000 individuals each month.
“We are getting the news out there,” Petree stated. “There are no reasons for customers to stay away,” she said.”
The organizations are encouraging affected businesses to work together.
“There is strength in numbers,” Petree said. “If you are a small business, you need to be a shameless self-promoter, partner and work with your neighbors, and stay informed.”
Petree suggested that businesses use their customer contact lists to send postcards and emails, post regularly on social media platforms, and keep a phone script handy for employees to help customers navigate roadblocks. If business warrants it, she also recommended adjusting store hours or using the downtime for remodeling or expansion.
“We didn’t want to have to get good at this,” Young said. “But we are going to use this road closure to help businesses now and to do better at dealing with the unexpected in the future.”
LEARN MORE
For updates on the repair timeline and access information, visit www.statesvillenc.net or www.downtownstatesville.com.