Sunnyside road work a welcome inconvenience

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Construction on South First Street is ahead of schedule.

That's good news for the drivers who use the arterial that links Sunnyside with Interstate 82 and the businesses that line its banks.

Construction crews have been widening the street, which runs by Bi-Mart, a pipe manufacturer, a trucking business, gas stations and a coffee shop before interchanging with the freeway at milepost 67. It's one of three interstate exchanges near Sunnyside.

The $2.7 million project will create three lanes, one for each direction plus a turn lane. The street previously had just two lanes.

Crews have poured the majority of the new roadbed and began work on the sidewalks Monday, said Shane Fisher, associate engineer for the city of Sunnyside.

The roadwork closed the street for a few days last week, bringing business almost to a standstill at Copa Caffe, a coffee shop located at the south end of the street near the freeway.

The new owners saw it coming, though. Work had started months ago, long before they bought the business this month.

"You have to expect that," said Aaron Guerra, who has been managing the business for his family.

He had one 10-hour day last week that brought in only $20. He used the slow period to update his shop's menu and work on the company Web site.

Fisher said crews should not have to close sections of the road anymore. The street is open to local traffic and a detour is in place for through-traffic.

The city originally planned to finish sometime in mid-September but are running ahead of schedule, Fisher said.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.