Road Construction Hurts Businesses

Business owners around the construction zone on the Ventura Freeway and Victoria Avenue interchange have reported plumbing problems, a drop in sales, power outages and strange smells.

With the exception of the landscaping, the $12.5-million project will be complete in two weeks after 2 1/2 years of construction. Final touches should be done by early March.

When the work is done, Alan Dikes, owner of Dikes Chevron on the west side of Victoria at Walker Street, said he expects the additional traffic heading south on Victoria Avenue to make up for a 40% drop in gasoline sales over the past two years.

He said three power outages--needed to move traffic lights--also shut down his gas pumps and bathroom lights and delayed auto repair work.

Other businesses have had plumbing and water problems.

Jim Salzer, owner of Salzer’s Records on the west side of Victoria at Valentine Road, said sand and rocks got into the store’s plumbing and ruined toilet and sink gaskets as a result of the construction. He said the problems caused him to make countless calls to the plumber.

“There’s days you curse the construction guys,” Salzer said.

Salzer said he has lost $365,000 in sales, mostly at Salzer’s Video, on the east side of Victoria at Valentine.

The road improvements include two new bridges over Victoria Avenue, extra lanes on Victoria and Valentine Road and wider on- and offramps.

City officials worked with merchants prior to construction to help them prepare for the project. Rick Raives, city engineer, said the city compensated owners for land, put up “open for business” signs and paid for improvements such as replacement parking for Salzer’s businesses.

“We think, and they would probably agree, that the finished product is much better than before,” said Raives.