Local traffic maneuvers around the barricades on SR 13. INDOT has until the end of August to complete repaving the state road after a chip and seal application failed last month. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE —  Area businesses, located in the stretch on SR 13 between Syracuse and North Webster, want the public to know they are open for business. A mishap with a chip and seal project and subsequent repairs on SR 13 have negatively affected local businesses in the area.

In late June, the Indiana Department of Transportation chip and sealed a stretch of SR 13 from the south end of Syracuse to the north end of North Webster. After the area experienced heavy rain and high humidity, the chip and seal failed, with the gravel sinking and oil raising to the top causing the road to become extremely slick.

On June 27, INDOT announced it was starting road repairs. Since then, the road has been milled down so it is passable, but at both ends are “road closed to through traffic” signs.

Jeff Dyson, co-owner of The South Shore Social, said prior to the July 4 holiday business was down.

“We’re down 25% over the last few weeks. We’re way down,” he said in a phone interview July 3. At the time, he said the weekly Wednesday cruise-in his business hosts had only five or six cars participate, “as compared to last year when we had a full parking lot,” he said.

Dyson said the cruise-in was hurt because “people don’t want to take their nice, vintage or classic cars down this road.”

At the time, Dyson was concerned about how business would be July 4. Reached Tuesday, July 8, Dyson said business over the holiday weekend was down 40%-50% when compared to a “normal” Friday or Saturday. Dyson said he wasn’t sure if business was down due to the road needing repairs, there were fireworks on the lakes both Friday and Saturday nights or a combination of both.

“There should be a 10-fold increase in people, traffic in town. We didn’t see an increase on Sunday. Overall, it’s hurting us,” Dyson said.

One thing that has helped a bit is both Dyson and Chip Erwin of the Sleepy Owl, took to social media posting videos showing people could get to their businesses.

Erwin said when the chip and seal work was done, the Sleepy Owl “lost (the use of) its patio” temporarily as gravel from passing cars was thrown onto the patio. Erwin said when the oil came up, cars “were sliding out. It was horrible.”

Before the July 4 holiday, Erwin said INDOT made two passes doing mill work to get the oil off the road.

Contacted Tuesday, July 8, Erwin, who is suffering from a cold, said he went home early from the Sleepy Owl both Friday and Saturday, noting he did not receive a “panicked call for help,” either night, which he would have expected if the restaurant was busy.

“I don’t think it’s just the road work,” he said noting he spoke to Nathan Scherer, town council president. “Everyone in town is soft.”

Noting the situation is affecting businesses on SR 13, Erwin said he wanted to do something that would help all the businesses in that area.

“We all get along well and I want to do something to help,” he said.

Scherer has been talking to representatives of INDOT and said none of what he was told would happen has.

“I have no idea when they’re coming (to finish the work),” he said in a phone interview Tuesday. He pointed out the situation makes it hard for local businesses to schedule staff.

Scherer is also concerned because SR 13 is supposed to be paved through Syracuse next year. He also thinks it’s “in pretty poor taste no one from INDOT has reached out to local businesses about what the plan is (to repair SR 13) so they can work with it. You (meaning INDOT) says there is a schedule, but David Wilkinson (Syracuse town manager) doesn’t have it. I asked (State Rep.) Dave Abbott and the schedule he gave me hasn’t come true,” Scherer said.

Abbott said he’s been communicating with INDOT representatives in Indianapolis and the Fort Wayne district, which covers Syracuse. Abbott said the road is open and has asked the barricades be taken down. He’s also requested when the barricades are up due to work being done that they have flashing lights so they can be seen at night.

While individuals can file a tort claim if their car was damaged by the chip and seal, there is no such process for businesses to be reimbursed by INDOT should their business be affected in situations like this. Abbott said he was looking to see how or if a business could be reimbursed for damages caused by the chip and seal. At the time, he said the only way he knew was to file a tort claim or sue.

Meanwhile, INDOT has until the end of August to have repairs to SR 13 completed.

A call to Mancave Brewery’s owners was not returned before deadline.