How a 6-month construction impacts Topekans, business owners around the area

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Recent construction at Southwest 21st Street and Southwest Topeka Boulevard is causing many locals to find another way around, and add time to their commutes.

Detours directed to bypass the six-month renovation to the intersection have caused many locals to have add time to their daily commutes as they can no longer drive directly across town.

One Topekan, Tim Salyer, has added 20 minutes to get to any store from his home, but has also seen many stores affected by this project.

"I know the guys are working hard. I know they are trying to get stuff done, and I realize that. And we can be patient for that but it does get very tiring," Sayler said. "There are stores that I cannot shop at, places I cannot go to that are one hundred percent blocked. I see stores closing down because of it."

Businesses around that intersection have noticed drivers using their parking lot to get around the construction, and turning onto streets that are otherwise blocked of.

This extra traffic can be hard for businesses and their customers who are already in the lots.

"So tomorrow, when they try to fly through the parking lot back and forth there's gonna be a lot more cars and motorcycles. People are gonna be walking to their cars. So, I'm hoping that people will take that and think about that when they are cutting through," Christy Watkins, owner of Touch of Class hair studio, said. "And also remember it is just a parking lot, it's not a side street so maybe kinda just take your time and going back and forth. We all know it's an inconvenience but try to think about the businesses and the people." 

27 News previously reported, it is illegal for drivers to cut through parking lots. Similar concerns popped up at Southwest 29th Street and Southwest Topeka Boulevard this summer. This project should wrap up in early January 2025.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.