BIDDEFORD — Construction on the Main Street Sidewalk Improvement Project is well underway in downtown Biddeford, and the clamor is causing quite a stir among local business owners who say they are now seeing a decline in business as a result.

The project, approved by the City Council in September, includes the reconstruction and expansion of sidewalks and lighting on both sides of Main Street between Alfred and Adams streets. The reconstruction is being completed in three phases, said City Staff Engineer Johnathan Malloy.

Construction is now moving into its third phase, which entails reconstruction of sidewalks from York to Lincoln streets. The first two phases, from Alfred to Franklin streets, and Franklin to Washington streets, are nearing completion, Malloy said.

The project is intended to draw more people to the city’s downtown with hopes they’ll walk around and shop more, in turn boosting the local economy.

“If you have things that are better-looking, people are going to want to come downtown,” Malloy said.

But business owners aren’t so sure. With construction going strong for about a month now, and with little parking available on Main Street even before ground broke on the project, some businesses are seeing a decline in customers.

“It’s unfortunate because there’s been no place to park for three weeks,” said Henry Vigue, owner of Music Plus at 140 Main St., on Thursday. “The traffic, a lot of it, just isn’t going downtown.”

Vigue said he’s lost about 75 percent of his business since construction, and he’s not sure the project will boost his business in the long run, either.

“I think it’ll just go back to the way it was” before the project, he said.

Malloy, who works on scene with the construction crew, said he understands the business owners’ concerns.

“They’re just a little stressed about this going on and they’re losing a little bit of business, but I just try to reassure them we’re doing this as fast as we can,” Malloy said. “We’re trying to expedite the process to limit their inconvenience as much as possible.”

In addition, he said, he believes the inconvenience will pay off. Malloy said he believes more people will definitely come to downtown Biddeford once the sidewalks are completed, noting the aesthetic improvements to the area will make people want to spend time there.

Next on the plan will be to install lights, he said, and trees toward the southern end of the work zone will be planted before winter. Project plans call for the addition of 16 in-ground trees on both sides of Main Street and the installation of cobblestone-lined flush concrete crosswalks.

Once the sidewalks are completed, the Maine Department of Transportation will pave the two lanes of travel on Main Street before winter, and will return in the spring to pave the street’s parking stalls and install crosswalks, City Manager Jim Bennett said Friday.

The $716,370 project is being funded through $294,465 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program, and $421,905 in city funds.

Funding for the project became a point of contention among city councilors in late August, when it was announced the project was running behind schedule and could cost upward of $838,870, more than $300,000 over budget, due to high bidding by outside contractors.

Bennett was able to reduce the cost by $122,500 by deferring several tree and flower plantings until fiscal year 2018. It was proposed the remaining $421,905 be funded in equal parts from three sources: the city’s tax-increment financing, or TIF, the unallocated fund, and funding from existing Lincoln Street improvement plans and local road taxes, each in the amount of $140,635.

City councilors in early September voted to leave the funds for the Lincoln Street and road plans untouched, instead voting to draw $281,270 from the undesignated fund balance and the remaining $140,635 from the TIF.

Bennett said on Friday he understands business owners’ concerns with construction, but stands by his and the council’s decision to go forward with the project.

“We obviously believe it’s the right thing to do, or we wouldn’t have recommended it to the council,” Bennett said. “It’s sort of like moving into a new house: nobody likes the moving part, but everybody likes the new house.”

“The construction part is always an aggravation, but in the end when it’s all done hopefully it’s worth the aggravation,” he said.

Bennett also said that, as the downtown changes, businesses will have to adjust to serving different types of customers than they may have previously.

“As downtowns transition and change and serve different clientele, some businesses are no longer going to end up having the same clientele to serve to. That’s just the way business works I think,” Bennett said “The sidewalks and other things that are down there are going to impact the kinds of people that will be in the downtown. It’s part of a bigger picture strategy.”

Malloy did say the majority of heavy work being conducted downtown would end in the next couple of weeks, as construction moves to less visible areas of the neighborhood. He said the project’s fall work is also on track to be completed on-time in November.

While Vigue isn’t sure the project will necessarily bring in more customers, he appreciates the city’s efforts to revitalize the area.

“They’re doing well. They’re really working hard,” Vigue, who has owned the record shop for 26 years, said of those involved in community development initiatives. “It’s a lot better than when I came in. Every little bit helps.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.