Temporary bridge irks merchants

LYNN – Angry Western Avenue business owners said they have received little to no information about plans to shift traffic on the major commercial roadway starting Saturday over a temporary bridge spanning the Saugus River.?What are the logistics going to be so there is access to businesses? We?re in a wait-and-see situation,” said Stoneham Boat Center owner Tim Horgan.Horgan?s boatyard located next to the river is one of seven businesses along a two-block-long stretch opposite the General Electric River Works that depend on business traffic traveling on Western Avenue. The temporary drawbridge constructed next to the Belden Bly Bridge has one traffic lane running in each direction between Western Avenue on the Lynn side of the River and Route 107 on the Saugus side.The bridge is designed to be raised and lowered to allow boat traffic to move along the river.Pro-Tech Auto Body owner Francisco Caballero is worried the bridge?s single-lane configuration will slow traffic on both sides of the river, making it harder for drivers to take the turn into his parking lot. “Are they going to come in here?” he asked on Thursday.An electronic sign placed on Western Avenue Thursday notified drivers to expect traffic pattern changes beginning Saturday. State Transportation spokesman Sara Lavoie did not have information Thursday on the temporary bridge opening, but the department?s website lists the Belden Bly Bridge replacement project in an online federal spending plan for 2014-2015 with $47 million budgeted for the project.Horgan said he called state officials after receiving no information on the temporary bridge opening and only a few details from the bridge construction contractor. He said state officials need to brief businesses about the bridge work schedule and traffic changes.?Everyone?s saying, ?What?s going on??” Horgan said.Bridge Auto Body employee Juan Beleiz said bridge work under way during the last several years has hurt business and Caballero said customers unfamiliar with Western Avenue sometimes decide to not stop at his shop if Western Avenue traffic is too congested.?It?s good to fix the bridge, but this is affecting all the businesses,” Caballero said.