As the greater Boise area, including Nampa, continues to grow, local leaders are making a number of improvements to roadways in order to facilitate greater traffic flow and to increase overall roadway capacity.
In the long term, road construction will benefit your small to mid-size business. Improved traffic flow will mean that more customers are able to easily access your storefront and interact with your staff. Unfortunately, however, road construction in front of your place of business may drive customers away in the short term. This could mean that you suffer from a much lower bottom line than you’d ultimately expect during the summer season.
Consulting with a civil engineer in Idaho is a great way to learn more about your options for improving access to your business site during ongoing roadway construction projects. Civil engineers may be able to help you develop an alternative access route and they can provide you with tips for dealing with construction.
Here are just a few tips to follow to help you improve business access during road construction:
- Stay informed: The most important thing that you can do to prepare for potential road construction around your place of business is staying informed. If you are aware of ongoing construction efforts, you can prepare much more effectively. You should also attend as many planning meetings as possible to make your voice heard, and effectively communicate your concerns as a business owner. Staying informed will allow you to work with other business owners more effectively.
- Save up: Another significant way that you can safeguard yourself against the potential ill effects of road construction is to save up a significant number of cash reserves. Without a large amount of cash on hand, your company may begin to suffer substantial financial affects. It’s always advisable to have a few months’ worth of operating expenses covered in your savings account. Road construction can last for years, however, so you should begin saving now, even if no construction is currently planned.
- Talk to your neighbors: If there are other businesses on your street affected by the road construction, it’s likely that they’re also wondering how they can prepare for the loss of revenue. Talking to your neighbors is an important way that you can prepare for any major construction projects. Working together with other local businesses is a significant step that you can take—together, for instance, you might produce advertisements that demonstrate that your businesses are indeed open during construction.
- Ask about mitigation programs: Many local governments offer mitigation programs during ongoing roadwork endeavors. If you’re in an affected area, you should ask the government about mitigation programs that it may operate. For instance, the government may provide you with large signage indicating that you’re still open, or it may allow you to put your own signs closer to the flow of traffic than it otherwise would.
Since 1989, Mason & Associates has been among the foremost civil engineers in Idaho. We’re proud to provide our clients with high-quality engineering services. Please reach out today to arrange a consultation!