Glenview-Northbrook Bridge Collapse Slows Surrounding Business
Foot traffic has decreased in the area since the fatal crash, which killed a Glenview couple last week.
Wil-Sher Shopping Plaza business owners say they've seen less customers since the July 4 train wreck that caused a bridge to collapse near the Northbrook-Glenview border, the Sun-Times reports.
“My customers from Glenview are not coming here," Young Shin, a Glenview resident and owner of Willow Cleaners told the newspaper. "Making our lease payment will not be easy."
Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Mark Davis said a new bridge will be ready in two months, retailers doubt a quick re-opening of Shermer Road.
"This is going to be crazy," Angel Hernandez, a cook at Mario's Pizza told Patch. "When they fixed the bridge it was a nightmare, we had no business, last year."
The same bridge had been closed last year "for 3 ½ months while Union Pacific repaired the bridge’s concrete abutments and rails," according to the Sun-Times.
Read Patch's full coverage of the train derailment and bridge collapse here.
While shops endure less customers, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has asked to ramp up federal oversight on railroad and bridge inspections, CBS reports.
“What we’re asking the FRA to do is to spot check other structures that may be vulnerable to changes, because of heat or traffic,” Durbin told CBS.
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KB
6:42 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I feel bad for the shops on Shermer just south of Willow. I don't work at the Subway but have gotten to know the owner and staff a bit. They are fantastic at what they do and I feel fortunate to have them part of our community. I know the dry cleaners also. They do great cleaning and alterations. We should all try to stop in and help them make it through this rough time.