Several business owners yesterday complained repairs to the lower Stuart St footpath - which began on Monday - had scared away customers.
Part of the footpath on the southern side of lower Stuart St, between Moray Pl and the Octagon, was closed to pedestrians while contractors for the Dunedin City Council continued the work yesterday.
Council projects engineer Evan Matheson said the $55,000 project to repair drainage and tiles would be completed by the end of next week, but be followed by a $25,000 repair job in the Regent quadrant of the Octagon.
He defended the timing of the project, saying shop owners near the work sites had been warned in writing and during door-to-door visits last week.
However, Sue Todd Antiques owner Sue Todd, whose shop is across the street, contacted the Otago Daily Times to complain she had not been notified.
She wondered why the work was not carried out at night, and wanted compensation for income lost because of the noise, dust and disruption.
"I haven't had a sale all day ...
Business is hard enough without having this go on during the day."
Two Chefs Bistro co-owner Grant Cockroft said he was notified, and while he would prefer the work was carried out at night, "at the end of the day the job's got to be done".
However, Pinkalillys Parties manager Carissa Williamson, who was also notified, said the disruption was a "big issue", with takings down by more than half on Monday.
"There's barricades all round our shop; it's noisy; I can't even answer the phone.
They've got their machine on and stuff - it's awful.
They should be doing it at night."
A staff member from the Gymeez fitness shop, who would not be named, was told last week the disruption would last "about 10 minutes".
"But it was all of yesterday and today has been hit and miss. It's a no-go zone really."
Mr Matheson said some disruption was inevitable, but "we are trying to keep it to a minimum".
Work could be carried out at night, but would cost more and could result in a reduced standard of work if completed under artificial light, he said.
It had not been thought necessary to notify shop owners outside the immediately affected area, but in future they could be, he said.
"We acknowledge it would probably be time well spent to advise property owners on the opposite side of the street, as a courtesy."
He could not comment on issues of compensation.
