So far my store, Backroom Bookstore has taken a $15,000 sales loss because of the road closure.

We forecast $57,500 in direct sales losses.

Considering that we would have used our sales to purchase more merchandise for future sales, we are projecting $135,000 sales loss this year at minimum.

Construction estimates never include the losses to businesses, the lost time to taxpayers due to detours, the lost gas from longer trips, the lost jobs, from affected businesses.

This project is a net negative on Houghton's economy. There are more jobs lost, sales lost and added commuter expenses than money spent.