Mt. Vernon businesses see downtick amidst bridge collapse
May 30, 2013, 8:53 AM | Updated: 9:21 am
Depending on where businesses are located in town, she said, some have seen a 35 to 50 percent decrease in business and that's concerning, Mt. Vernon's mayor told Seattle's Morning News. (KIRO Radio Photo/Brandi Kruse)
(KIRO Radio Photo/Brandi Kruse)
The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River is out of commission, and detour routes are seeing extra traffic – including those through Mt. Vernon.
With the extra cars driving by local businesses, you’d think it’d be good news, but the Mt. Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau said that’s not always the case.
“Sometimes when you get in a line you just want to get through the town and get going, right?” she asked Seattle’s Morning News.
She said Depending on where businesses are located in town some have seen a 35 to 50 percent decrease in business and that’s concerning.
That’s not the case everywhere. Some want to avoid the traffic involved in going to a bigger warehouse store, and are going to the local Ace Hardware, said Boudreau.
“It really just depends on where these folks are,” said Boudreau.
As summer approaches, Boudreau said that she’s not going to let a bridge, or lack there of, stop encouraging people to stay in, or visit, Mt. Vernon.
“We’ve got so many fun things going on to do, that we’re inviting people to come.”
