A local business owner says he is concerned upcoming construction work near his establishment will negatively impact business.

Jeff Kendel, who owns Kendel’s restaurant, gas station, and automotive shop on the corner of Molson Street and McLeod Avenue, said he has serious concerns about the city’s decision to build a roundabout at the intersection of Grassie Boulevard and Molson.

Construction of the $2.1 million project is scheduled to begin later this month and continue until the end of October.

Kendel said he is concerned the work will disrupt traffic and have a negative impact on his bottom line.

"It’s going to affect business because it’s going to disrupt traffic around here for the four months," said Kendel, who has operated his business for 38 years.

"I’m not convinced that’s going to solve their traffic  problems."

Kendel said he raised concerns about gas tankers coming to his station and how the drivers will make it through the roundabout. City officials told him they don’t think it will be a problem.

"They have assured me that it’s big enough that the tanker will be able to negotiate that turn," he said.

Ryan Cunningham, a streets project engineer with the city’s public works department, said the roundabout is being constructed to help deal with increasing traffic volumes in the area.

"Traffic volumes at the intersection were exceeding the capacity, and a roundabout worked well in the residential area there," Cunningham said.

"Basically the roundabout allows vehicles to enter the intersection from multiple directions, which will decrease the delays there."

Cunningham said the roundabout will have a positive impact on the environment since there will be less stop-and-go traffic which results in higher vehicle emissions.

"You’re not going to have the stop and starts you would have with a four-way stop. It’s a greener option," he said, adding the project will be divided into four stages with a number of traffic restrictions taking place.

Kendel said the recent closure of Molson as a result of the Chief Peguis Trail extension has impacted his business and he fears the roundabout could make the situation worse.

"When it’s done, if it doesn’t fix the traffic problem, then people coming off the highway to me might do it once," Kendel said.

"If they have real trouble with that traffic circle they aren’t going to come back in off the highway again."

For more information on the project and street closures visit http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/GrassieMolsonRoundabout.

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com