Downtown Glenwood Springs is entering its second month of the Grand Avenue waterline replacement project.

It’s giving everyone a mild taste of what’s in store for next year, when the Colorado Department of Transportation launches its $3 million, 11-month Grand Avenue Paving Project.

The east side of downtown is hunkered behind barricades, coping with dust, noise, vibration, a narrow sidewalk, no curbside parking, closed intersections, and the occasional geyser that erupts when excavators hit an unmapped but pressurized water service line.

Local contractor Mark Gould, well aware of the gripes he will face even if the project goes according to plan, is on the job site every day to smooth the rough spots.

In October, it will be the west side’s turn.

As could be expected, those trying to make a living in downtown shops and restaurants are grumbling. Many businesses are offering attractive discounts to entice customers to walk into the construction zone.

It’s a great time to snag some pre-holiday bargains.

Meanwhile, the work has also brought out renewed opposition to closure of the east side wing street, now temporarily closed by construction. Wing street business proprietors say the half-block exit from Grand Avenue is a vitally needed link for motorists and delivery trucks, and the lost parking is hurting business.

These folks should note that three blocks of downtown are under construction, and the cumulative effect on parking and traffic flow is painful. What we are seeing now is a real-life comparison to the GAPP. These conditions are far more extreme than what downtown would experience by closing the wing street.