CLARKSVILLE, Texas — Construction crews for the redevelopment of Riverside Drive in southern Indiana continue to make progress. Around noon on Tuesday, they laid down a brand new floodgate after expanding the floodwall.
The redevelopment project along Riverside Drive started earlier this year, but according to the Town of Clarksville, they're still months away from completion.
This project is keeping local business on their toes as they deal with the growing pains.
Despite that frustration, store owners said they are happy with the progress.
"The floodgate is actually 52-feet wide, 16-feet tall, and three feet deep," Tammi Gibson, the economic development director for the Town of Clarksville, said. "As we saw it coming down it sat on a roller."
The gate will be managed by the Jeffersonville/Clarksville Flood Control. It's $1.5 million out of the $4.5 million budget for the entire project.
"There was about 12-feet of water in this area at one time during the 1937 flood," Gibson said. "We've had floods since then but this is a controlled seal to avoid any water coming into south Clarksville."
Right next to the construction is the Bolt + Tie apartment complex which houses several local businesses on the first floor.
Ebonee Sutton, the founder of Edible Beauty 812, moved here two months ago as an investment.
"Well the benefits will be the foot traffic and it's the people who are already in the building," Sutton said. "We already have residents upstairs but this building is filling up so fast. Once the convention center is opened and the Amtrak is coming through here it's almost certain I'll have some people coming over here taking advantage of what we have to offer."
Sutton isn't the only business owner missing the foot traffic because of construction.
Brittany Bailey, the owner of B Prolific Salon, said she can't wait to see more walk-ins and people on up and down the sidewalk again. Bailey moved her business in before the construction started. She said the access to the park is also crucial for business and to unwind.
"It's really important because throughout the day you deal with so many types of people," Bailey said. "Different energies and things of that nature. It's nice to get down by the water and get a breathe of fresh air."
Crewing settling in the new gate into its spot is a promising sign the project in on course.
"I know it's been such an issue with our downtown business who have taken a risk in opening their businesses down here," Gibson said. "To see the improvements and the progress and things happen from an old brown field site it's pretty cool."
Both businesses said the construction also impacted their Thunder Over Louisville turnout. They hope to benefit from a larger crowd next year once the area is more accessible.
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