No matter if it's repaving a road or refurbishing buildings, downtowns in our hometowns are seeing plenty of new construction projects.
In the long run towns are confident the work will help the economy.
But until then small businesses are taking a hit.
Stan Davis is the general manager of Eats in Blacksburg.
He's feeling the blow of the constuction project right in front of his business.
"We've had already one truck not be able to get into the parking lot and we had to drive off site to go get the truc," Davis said.
What used to be a busy intersection is now a two-lane road. It's only temporary, a traffic nightmare of signs and dirt will soon be a roundabout to ease the flow of traffic. But in the meantime detours and closures are only confusing drivers.
"It's been very inconvienent for us, we're getting calls everyday from customers trying to find out how to get to the store," Davis said.
An estimated loss of six hundred dollars a day for Stan.
All this isn't just annoying for small businesses in town, it's also a nuisance for a new restaurant, 622 North. Just across the street this constant construction sends vibrations through the building and a load of dust everyday on their outdoor patio, making customers want to go back inside.
"It's a little unnerving too. I can't imagine someone who's wanting to come in to dine really appreciates the fact that they're in a vibrating restaurant," said Trent Crabtree, a manager at 622 North.
Blacksburg isn't the only town giving their mainstreet a makeover. Rocky Mount and Danville are updating buildings and detouring traffic, and last month Martinsville broke ground on their reviving project.
Growing pains will hurt.
"We're all suffering from this construction job," Davis said.
The construction in Blacksburg is expected to be completed next fall... but Stan isn't sure if he can make it till then.
If customers and delivery trucks can't find a convenient way there, his business might close.
