Roadwork crew's disappearing act worries Cartier Ave. merchants

With Christmas just a month away, some businesses on Cartier Avenue in Pointe-Claire are having trouble getting customers inside.

Construction on the commercial strip has been underway since the beginning of the summer, but last Thursday, the construction workers didn't show up to work, local merchants said.

Gary Davis, the owner of a Cartier Avenue dive shop called Action Scuba, said the construction has been at a standstill for a week now.

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Meanwhile, his business is suffering.

"Generally, we have a continuous stream of people, especially our Black Friday sale. These past few days have been a lot slower than in the past," Davis said.

Farokh Kohan, the manager of La Maison de L'Aspirateur, said his business is down $10,000 to $15,000 from what it would usually be at this point in the year.

Signs around the construction site announced the work should be coming to an end in mid-August, Davis said.

"We're now three months behind," he said. "We've definitely lost some business throughout."

Contractor filed for bankruptcy, mayor says

The contractor, GT Excavation, filed for bankruptcy last Thursday, according to Pointe-Claire Mayor John Belvedere.

As soon as the city found out, its legal team was on the case, he said.

"We're really on top of it," Belvedere said. "Today is only Tuesday. We've already identified two contractors that can possibly take over and finish the work.

He hopes construction will be completed by Dec. 15, but Kohan and Davis are skeptical.

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"When it comes to construction, we know: things that are suppose to finish a month ago, they continue to be another two, three months after," Kohan said.

Davis said that if construction work doesn't finish soon, his business will really suffer.

"If it continues for the winter, we're going to seriously be in trouble."