Most businesses are profiting from the increase in traffic along the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley's young Bryden Canyon corridor, nearing 4 months of age.
Reaction from the business community on both sides of the river is generally encouraging and optimistic, with reports of small decreases to exponential gains.
The Bryden Canyon Road is the final link in a new route that takes traffic from Clarkston, over the Southway Bridge into Lewiston Orchards.
"We have seen nothing but positive things since the road has opened," says Brett Howell, general manager of 24 Hour Fitness in the South Gate Plaza on Bryden Avenue. "There has been about a 25 percent increase in business.
"The road has opened up a new group of clientele," adds Howard. "It used to take 25 to 30 minutes to get here from the Clarkston Heights. Now it takes eight minutes.
"We are having a lot of fun with it and are fortunate to have the benefit of the road."
Similar gains were felt at the Conoco station on Bryden and Eighth Street. "We went from 650 to 800 customers a day," says manager Bill Troum-ley.
The station had to get a new cash register system and hire another person.
The only problem is people are having a hard time pulling out onto Bryden because of the increased traffic, Troumbley says. "But the overall response is great."
Several studies conducted over the past several years demonstrated the need for Bryden Canyon Road. Since its opening April 12, Bryden Avenue traffic jumped from 9,440 in the '96-'97 survey to more than 15,000 at peak hours.
No traffic counts are available on the Clarkston side of Southway Bridge. However, between 13,000 and 14,000 vehicles traveled daily on Fleshman Way before Bryden Canyon opened in Lewiston.
Rosauers on Bryden Avenue and Thain Road has noticed an increase in sales, says assistant manager Jim Dailey. "People are able to drive faster from the Clarkston Heights than to Albertsons off 21st."
Lewiston Community Development Director Bob Bushfield believes the road is lessening the congestion within the city, which has likely helped the entire business community. People will have less of a tendency to avoid streets such as Thain and Southway because they are perceived as less congested, he says.
"The net effect is very positive to the overall business community. It improves the ability of people to move throughout the greater metropolitan area."
From a regional perspective, Bushfield says the road has provided a necessary link to the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston Orchards. "Now people that are coming from outside areas can effectively use the bypass and get up the road to the airport."
But Iris Eckroth, owner of Fairley's Flowers and Gifts on Bryden Avenue, says "the road is not all what it's cracked up to be.
"Overall we've lost a small amount of business. Our regular senior citizen customers are afraid of the road because it is so busy."
Neighboring business owner Sherri Kuum of Mail Boxes Etc. is of a different impression. "We are seeing lots of new faces, probably 10 more customers per day, some days more than others."
Downtown Business Partnership interim chairman Larry Tannahill says the Bryden corridor is competing with business downtown. "But competition is good."
The downtown group is an association of private and public partners working to enhance the appearance and economic success of downtown Lewiston.
"The road is part of the valley's dynamic growth," says Tannahill. "People shouldn't be forced to come see you. If you have something of worth and value, people will find you."
Greg Follett, owner of Follett's furniture downtown and Sleep Zone on Bryden Avenue, says the road may be a blessing in disguise. "I envision downtown as becoming similar to Coeur d'Alene's downtown with more eclectic, independent shops."
"If I thought of 10 things that adversely affect my business," says Bob Thorson, owner of Pepperland Records and Tapes in downtown Lewiston, "the new road wouldn't be on the list."
The daily traffic count on Southway, the old route to the Orchards, has dropped by more than 10,000 cars a day. The '96-'97 survey showed 20,462 cars per day, which has slowed to 9,052 post-Bryden Canyon completion.
Business at the Zip Trip on Southway might have slowed a little bit, says manager Mandy Grice. "I don't know if it is the road or gas prices are high. We are not as busy as we were last summer."
"A lot of the traffic is no longer there on 16th Avenue," says Gary Gunkle, owner of Ann's Pony Espresso Drive Thru on 16th, which is the continuation of Southway. "Our business is directly related to the traffic going by and it has backed off a few percent."
The Steamery, a coffee shop and drive-through on Clarkston's Fleshman Way, meanwhile, has seen its business nearly double, says manager Amanda Anderson. "It has brought so much new business. New people from Lewiston and all around have been coming that we haven't seen before."
Clarkston Chamber of Commerce President Doug Renggli hasn't heard any negative comments from downtown Clarkston businesses. "I do not know of anybody in downtown Clarkston that has complained.
"Gov. Locke was very impressed with the new road during his ride to the airport," he adds.
