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Frustrated Waldo business owners say construction on Wornall Road is costing them

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Street Construction in Waldo in Kansas City along a 10-block stretch of Wornall Road and 79th Street has many affected businesses saying it's costing them customers and money.

Trenton Matthews is a tattoo artist at Waldo’s Darkside Tattoo shop. He said their walk-in traffic is down and they are $10,000 below their normal income since January. 

Spire Energy is replacing gas lines with new more durable, long-lasting lines. The project started last October and when construction cones went up business slowed down. 

“I’m tired of feeling like there’s nothing that we can do about this,” said Matthews

So, on Thursday, Matthews told 41 Action News he drove the length of the construction project on Wornall to see if Spire Energy crews were on the job. Matthews said he didn't like what he saw.  

“I hate to be the person who is actually taking the time to drive and look at this point but there were six people and three of them were working,” Matthews added.  

Rick Pryor with Spire Energy said it’s possible that crews are not working in front of a certain business because they’re working elsewhere on another part of the project.  

“We have also attended numerous town hall meetings and community meetings to make sure businesses are aware of what’s happening on the project,"  said Pryor.

But Leslie Routh, a caregiver at A Dog’s Fun Playce in Waldo said Wornall Road was closed in front of the doggie daycare for two days and Spire Energy did not give them any warning.  

“They close the road down. Our clients were coming to try to pick up their dogs. They had to walk from 2 and a half blocks down the road,” said Routh.  

The Spire Energy executive said Kruse will finish replacing gas lines in two weeks. But the construction difficulties will continue. Kansas City will begin replacing water and sewer lines under Wornall Road. Resurfacing Wornall Road is expected to begin this summer.