Buckley St level crossing removal: Essendon Cyclery loses more than $180,000 in trade
AN ESSENDON trader says he lost $180,000 in trade during level crossing removal works.
North West
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ESSENDON traders are calling on the community to return to shopping strips around the train station after the Buckley St underpass opened last Friday.
The road under rail level crossing project that divided residents and local politicians has finished months ahead of schedule in good news for more than 11,000 drivers.
A 52-day construction blitz, which began in July, closed Buckley St and streets near Essendon station.
READ MORE:
ESSENDON BUCKLEY ST LEVEL CROSSING REMOVAL NEARS COMPLETION
LEVEL CROSSING REMOVALS: CRAIGIEBURN TRAIN LINE RUNNING AGAIN
ESSENDON TRADERS FEEL HEAT AS LEVEL CROSSING WORKS FORCE CUSTOMERS ELSEWHERE
But the price of progress has been felt by local traders whose shops had been all but shut off from public access by road closures.
Essendon Cyclery owners Gareth Minifie and Riley Uebergang say they have been hit with almost $200,000 worth of losses after buses took over customer parking. Picture: Rob Leeson.
Rose St Andel Homewares owner Marita Webb said the last three months had been tough.
“Terrible, terrible. There’s no one around, people are just avoiding the area. There’s no people waking through,” she said.
Outside Ms Webb’s shop was a footpath surrounded by concrete barriers covered with black fencing.
“Behind that are cement trucks, a truck with sandbags in it, two cranes. It’s a debacle,” she said.
Essendon Cyclery co-owner Gareth Minifie said he had lost almost $200,000 after buses were relocated to out the front of his shop in Mr Alexander Rd, taking up the majority of car parks used by his customers.
“The only reason we’re still in business is because we have loyal customers who have come out to support us,” he said.
The Buckley St underpass opened to traffic last Friday. Picture: Rob Leeson.
“We have lost $180,000 in trade over the course of the build.
“We liquidated a lot of stock and burned it at cost price to get people into the store, which set us back two years financially.”
Those against the rail under road plan felt it was unsafe for children, cyclists and people with disabilities.
The footpath over Buckley St has been widened to 2m, new ramps and stairs built and traffic lights and bike lanes have been installed.
Essendon Cyclery owners Riley Uebergang. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui
Despite the project’s completion, residents lodged a petition with Moonee Valley Council last week asking for Sherbourne St to remain an exit only onto the new Buckley St underpass.
Mayor John Sipek said the LXRA were “doing all the right things” to fix issues with the project’s design.
“We’re seeing positive movements forward with the traffic lights at Shamrock St and they are reacting to community concerns,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to traffic flow getting back to normal.”
Landscaping works will be complete by the end of they year.
rachel.clayton@news.com.au • @Rachel_Clayton_
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