COEUR d'ALENE - A blown waterline during street construction tied to the McEuen Park project forced several businesses to shut down for several hours Friday afternoon.

Assistant Coeur d'Alene Water Superintendent Terry Pickel said crews overlooked a fitting when rerouting a water line over a storm line, causing the water system to blow. Water had to be shut off for several hours around midday Friday, causing businesses on Sherman Avenue between Second and Fourth streets to close until 5 p.m.

"Three days and it's just been dead," said Clark Summers, owner of Summers Glass on Sherman Avenue, on lethargic foot traffic since the street project started. "And now we got to go through this?"

Summers said communication was sparse with project organizers after his water was shut off. His neighbor, the Eagles Club, had a sign in its window alerting patrons they were shut down because of the lack of water. Summers kept the store open during the dry spell, but said he planned to shut his shop down early since his street and neighbors were deserted.

"I understand why they have to do it, but I'm not happy about it," he said.

Contractors Northwest Inc., is leading the McEuen Field redevelopment project. Pickel said the blown line caused "minimal" amount of water loss, at "minimal" cost to the contractor, because crews were on site when it happened.

"It's not a significant amount of water loss, just inconvenience for the businesses," he said.

The city worked with Panhandle Health District shutting down service industry businesses Friday.

Employees at Pita Pit on Sherman Avenue said they were "absolutely, 100 percent inconvenienced" having to shut down between 2 to 6 p.m. Friday.

"Being closed on a Friday when it's sunny isn't good for business," said Ben Drake, vice president of operational systems for Pita Pit USA.

He said he got word there was a water problem at the business beginning Thursday night, and had to contact the city to resolve the issue on Friday.

"I've done all the communicating," he said. "It has been (a hassle) but these things happen."

Restaurants started reopening around 5 p.m.

Part of the street project involves installing new stormwater manholes and 36-inch stormwater mains down the center of Third Street from Front Avenue to the alley north of Sherman Avenue.

The street project should end with the finishing of paving on Thursday, June 13. Third Street will be open for Car d'Lane the following day.