Canada Line construction cuts business in Richmond

Canada Line construction, which has wreaked havoc on small businesses along Cambie Street in Vancouver, is also taking a toll on merchants along Number 3 Road in Richmond.

The busy shopping street has become a slalom course of orange pylons as work on the new rapid transit line goes ahead, making store access difficult for would-be customers.

Canada Line officials have posted signs about the access, but the business owners say it's not working.

Bernard Lee, who manages Milan Exchange an accessories store on the strip said his business has dropped by half since construction started.

"They put up a print sign on top of the building and it's really small, and parking and traffic is really bad, and people can't seem to locate the store."

Karen Petersen Ivanick, who speaks for the Canada Line project,said they're trying to minimize the impact of the construction on the merchants.

"Customers are confused about access, and so we have been putting signage in to indicate where people can turn into the driveways and access the parking as they used to do."

Petersen Ivanick said they've also launched a new advertising campaign urging people to continue shopping along Number 3 Road.

But Bernard Lee isn't optimistic the ads will make any difference, as customers are just staying away.

The construction on Number 3 Road is expected to be completed by the summer of 2008.

The 19-kilometre Canada Line will connect downtown Vancouver withRichmond and Vancouver International Airport. The $1.9-billion project is scheduled to be complete by 2009, a year before Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics.