By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

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Independent/Barrett Stinson Therešs no shortage of signs and blockades, as the Highway 30 renovation project gets under way in Grand Island, and cars make their way west along Highway 30 until making a detour just west of Eddy Street northward to Third Street. Independent/Barrett Stinson Most businesses along the section of Highway 30 under construction in Grand Island, including BG&S Transmissions, are grateful for access to their businesses that is part of the construction plan. Click Thumbnails to View

A pickup lightly ran into a stopped car that was waiting in a line at Third and Clark, said Capt. Pete Kortum of the Grand Island Police Department. Stop signs have been posted on Third Street there to allow Highway 30 traffic a through outlet.

Kortum said traffic was a little hectic Tuesday afternoon but was much better on Wednesday.

"It flows pretty well," Kortum said. "For people going through town, it's very smooth."

The detours get a "little thick" for local traffic used to taking Third Street to the east. That requires additional travel time, Kortum said.

"I saw them backed up quite a bit" on Third Street, said Anthony Ladd, operations manager for Burger King, which has a restaurant at 1320 W. Second St.

Ladd said Department of Roads officials told area businesses to expect as much as a 20 percent decline in sales during the construction due to motorists who may try to avoid the area.

"We didn't notice any change," Ladd said.

But Burger King managers have anticipated that motorists trying to avoid the construction area may cause an increase in traffic at its Webb Road and South Locust restaurants. Burger King boosted staff numbers at those locations, Ladd said.

The best entrance into the Second Street Burger King is from the restaurant's back lot off Third Street, he said.

Walgreens is offering free mail-out of prescriptions during the construction period and also has a recorded message on its automated answering machine that directs motorists to use First Street as an entrance via Monroe.

Monroe had previously been closed and was landscaped as part of the Walgreens parking lot, but during the construction phase, the landscaping area was cut away to make a direct access into the parking lot.

"It's a four-way stop at Monroe," Walgreens Manager Dave Litz said. "It's working well."

Walgreens also has access from Second Street, Broadwell and Madison. The drive-through will remain open throughout the project, even as Second Street pavement removal and restoration w has heard a few customers talk about being confused about where to drive, but he believes "as time goes by, people will get used to it and settle in."

BG&S Transmissions at 901 W. Second St. has one of the most unusual entrances. It's the alley at Eddy Street between First and Second.

"The alley is upgraded graded and rocked," said Bill Raile, owner of BG&S Transmissions.

He complimented Department of Roads Project Manager Scott Griepenstroh and Hooker Brothers Construction engineer Kerry McGrath for going over and above in providing access to impacted businesses.

The $4.5 million widening project is adding a common turn lane on Second Street from Grant to Greenwich. It's also adding drainage. Construction is expected to continue through November.

Raile is excited that Grand Island's Community Redevelopment Authority is paying to install underground conduit for future landscaping and lighting work and that Griepenstroh has incorporated the conduit into the project.

"Highway 30 needs to be presented better in a more professional way. This will do that," Raile said of the completed project.

Truck traffic through the construction zone has been significantly reduced.

Griepenstroh said that while there's no official detour for trucks, he suspects semi drivers may be avoiding the area since he sent notices to an area truck stop.

"So far, it hasn't been too much of an inconvenience," said Marge Darling of BG&S Transmissions.

"It's really well-signed and so far so good," Kortum said. "We're pretty pleased with it."