‘I want compensation’: Turner Road businesses sound off over never-ending construction

Businesses are upset over road construction since customers can’t get to them and they’re losing money. CTV’s Bob Bellacicco explains.

Business owners on Turner Road have had enough of construction which they say is turning away potential customers.

“I want compensation which I deserve,” said Sarvdeep Singh who owns a business on Turner Road near Grand Marais Road East.

He says construction has hampered his business since last March.

“I don’t know like, what they are doing,” Singh said.

Gabriel Patcas, who owns the strip plaza wonders as well.

“It’s been still going and that hole behind me they started digging seven times on the last three days,” he said.

Patcas is completely flustered by the time it has taken to do whatever is being done. He claims he received no notice. He does say initially signs on the street indicated the work would only take a few weeks.

“They were just showing over there on the advertising besides the road it will be done in about three weeks. Now it’s past another three to four months,” he said.

He says the businesses have not had any update from Enwin about the work or how long it is scheduled to take.

“It’s very very unprofessional,” he added.

And he says the construction is hurting their livelihood.

“A lot of cars have been cancelling,” Nameer Younan told CTV News. “Even a lot of my friends themselves they tell me they get here all the way with their nice cars. They don’t want to drive on the gravel. They don’t want to drive on all that because of damages to their car.”

Singh says for the reason, someone needs to pay for their loss.

“I want compensation for all these businesses that have lost meaningful revenue, that have lost their health due to this construction going on over here,” he said.

They claim customers are going elsewhere because of the barriers and mess.

In a statement to CTV News, Enwin doesn’t address the project or timeline but says they are aware that businesses along Turner Road have raised concerns about construction impacts. Enwin has maintained access to all businesses throughout the project and continues to work to minimize disruption.

Businesses in the area say a sign signalling businesses are open was put up on Parkdale Place earlier this week. At the other end from Grand Marais, there is an opening for cars to visit the plaza that is home to many vehicle services but that opening gets compromised.

“They repeatedly block this entrance into the plaza,” Singh said. “And we’ve had to request them repeatedly to move the trucks out of the way and they have not been compliant all the time.”

Owners want a solution quickly. They invite a timeline for completion and want to be compensated and are talking about hiring a lawyer and taking legal action.