The Otago Daily Times canvassed Clyde St businesses yesterday to ask retailers whether the project had affected their business.
Lost parking spots and reduced pedestrian access was resulting in business slowing. However, many praised the contractor, Fulton Hogan, whose representative came in to regularly update businesses affected by the work programme.
Gin's Restaurant owner Jimmy Auyeoung said business was down by as much as 30% while work sites occupied parking in front of his takeaway shop.
''You can't do anything about it anyway,'' he said.
''It is [the same] for anybody in Balclutha.
''You've got to wait for them to finish.''
Sarah Raftery, of Just Incredible, said her shop was ''a lot quieter'', as its elderly customers were staying home because they found it hard navigating uneven footpaths.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he had been on the main street regularly to gauge the mood of the retailers, and he knew there were concerns about parking and pedestrian access, especially for those with limited mobility.
Mr Cadogan said the contractors had asked the New Zealand Transport Agency to ease parking restrictions at one side of active construction sites.
When it was granted last Friday, ''potentially over 30 car parks'' had been recreated while the work programme continued.
He apologised yesterday for the ''unavoidable'' limitations to pedestrian access. Parking issues were lessened for those businesses on the west side of the street, which backed on to the council car park.
Robyn Bell, of Heartand Soul Cafe, said she made a new sign for the window of her cafe to indicate parking was available behind the building after noticing a decrease in the foot traffic in front of her store.
PowerZone Suzuki's Dean Bond said the back door had been used regularly by customers before the work began.
Several stores echoed his comment that PowerZone Suzuki was a ''destination shop'' that did not rely on foot traffic.
Some reported no change to their business as the work progressed.
Mr Cadogan said the installation of paving stones at the north end of Clyde St was the first sign of a finished product since work began in June.
