NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - The clock is ticking and people on both sides of the river are anxiously waiting for the Sherman Minton Bridge to open. Repair work is expected to be done by March 1. As Kentuckiana residents begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, some businesses have actually benefited the last five months the bridge being closed.
On Spring Street in New Albany, traffic has picked up since things have slowed down on the Sherman Minton Bridge. The anticipation for it to open, is growing.
"We've been so long without and it's like will it ever get done," said New Albany resident Laura Lewis.
The bridge contractor, Louisville-based Hall Contracting, tells WAVE 3 that they expect to have the bridge open sometime before the March 1 deadline. However, they wouldn't give a specific date.
In the past five months, the bridge being closed has been a good thing for some area businesses. The BP on Spring Street has seen at least a 20% increase in business, they've had to bring in more staff to accommodate.
"Morning time, a lot of new faces," said store manager Jay Singh. "Coffee customers they all get ready for work and afternoon lunch time too."
A few blocks away, it's hard for drivers passing by to resist the temptations at the Sweet Stuff Bakery.
"They almost always want doughnuts anytime of day it doesn't matter," said Sweet Stuff Bakery owner Diane Christopher.
Christopher says she's seen more customers looking for a little snack to get them over their longer commute... both directions. The extra business is just the icing on the cake.
"We started to pick up some new business," said Christopher. "We are very fortunate in that when a customer comes to visit us they usually keep coming back."
With the possibility that we may be back to a normal commute soon, the extra business will be missed by Singh.
"Well, it's going to go down in sales actually," said Singh. "It's alright though."
Christopher looks forward to seeing some of the old faces she hasn't seen in a while and looks forward the new friends she's made.
Hall Contracting says they are working on the toughest section of the project, which is replacing structural plates on the inside of the bridge.
Indiana Department of Transportation officials are estimating that the bridge will reopen earlier than the contractor's deadline of March 1 by midnight. If they open the bridge by 11:59:59 p.m. on February 29, then they're eligible for a $100,000 incentive, and an additional $100,000 for each day before that.
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