Road Construction Frustrates Businesses Near Lincoln And Peterson

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago businesses around Lincoln and Peterson say they are suffering - and some have closed - because of road construction in the area that has been going on almost two years, reports WBBM's Steve Miller reports.

Jerry Zanayed has owned Foremost Liquors for 13 years and he says road construction has significantly slowed the flow of customers, even sending an employee home early for the day.

"He is leaving now. It's 12:30 p.m., there is nothing to do," said Zanayed. "I have to cut hours here, cut hours there. There is nothing to do. They stand around here because there is nothing going on. "

Grace Ayala works In the Supercuts in the same shopping center at Peterson and Lincoln.

"The lines have been so long because it has been down to one lane going east on both sides, so sometimes they will just give up and get frustrated, turn right around," said Ayala.

Shop owners don't believe it, but the plan is for IDOT to wrap up construction this week, but then a project on the Peterson Avenue bridge is supposed to start this summer.

Newsradio has tried to reach IDOT for a response.