Berry Wood, the manager of the Charleston Moose Lodge, says his business has lost $1,000 a month since a maintenance project on Kanawha Boulevard between East Avenue and Daniel Boone Park began last year.
Wood is one of many commuters and business owners in the area affected by the construction.
Carrie Jones, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said those inconvenienced by the road work have asked why the DOT doesn't simply pave the road and call it a day. The project is much more complicated, she said, and aims to fix a pervasive drainage issue.
"Before, that area was known to flood when it would rain," she said. "There would be standing water and there were vehicles that would hydroplane."
Jones said the project has been met with roadblocks. The latest holdup, she said, has been with utility companies that need to move water lines, telephone lines and electric lines before Transportation can move on with construction.
On Wednesday, Jones said that the last time she checked in with the construction engineer, most of the power lines had been moved and only a few phone lines remained.
The department understands the frustrations of those who commute through the area, Jones said, as well as nearby businesses that have been negatively affected by the ongoing construction. Jones lives in the area and said she has to look at the construction every day.
As a business operator, Wood said the maintenance is not only a bother to him but also to his customers.
This week, Wood tried to "slam the brakes on everything."
He had the Division of Highways on the site Thursday and made a number of phone calls in an attempt to force progress on the stalled construction.
His efforts were fruitless, he said, and, at this point, he just feels defeated.
"You get tired of arguing with people," Wood said, "so you just sit back and see what they can do, because you can't do anything."
There's always a new issue, said Wood, who has dealt with a "nightmare" of cones and mistakes, such as telephone poles being knocked over.
Wood said the Moose Lodge's parking lot also has been harmed by the construction, with the state and utility companies not entirely owning up to the damages. For example, Appalachian Power will refill any holes it is responsible for, he said, but it's up to him to re-asphalt the lot.
"When it's said and done," he said, "there's going to be spots and blotches, and it's probably just going to look like crap."
Wood said that anyone looking to spend an evening at the Moose Lodge should stop by, because the lodge could really use the business.
The completion date of the $2.7 million maintenance project is scheduled for the end of the year, according to the DOT's website.
Reach Jared Casto at jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.