
A giant, 35-foot deep sinkhole on West 7th Street near downtown St. Paul continues to cause major headaches, with a fix taking longer than originally thought.
A still ongoing, now three-month-long construction project has been and continues to be a cause of frustration for St. Paul businesses and residents.
Originally stemming from a sinkhole from a sewer line collapse in early May, the construction means major detours for drivers and bus commuters.
It's also impacted foot traffic and parking for local businesses like Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub.
"It's confusing because it says we're closed," Tom Reid's General Manger Kathy Gosiger explains. "Well, they're still parking, but they're confused or if they're coming from that way they don't know how to maneuver with the way the streets are here. And now they've changed even more downtown so it's very frustrating."
It's more than visitors however, with even locals saying they are fed up with the changes and the work continuing.
"That's why I wish they would understand that they don't turn off all the left hand turns, like on 7th, Jackson," says a local resident who didn't want to share his name. "They put left hand turn signals, temporary left hand turn signals, so that people can continue to keep the flow of traffic moving steadily."
With summer winding down soon, many are eager for the city to complete repairs and reopen the road.
Since that sinkhole in May, West 7th Street from Kellogg Boulevard to Grand Avenue is open for local business access only. Sidewalks remain open for pedestrian access.
WCCO has reached out to St. Paul's Public Works department for a status update, but have not yet heard back. The project was originally expected to be complete in early July.