COEUR d'ALENE - Frank Young and Alfredo Torres spent all day Wednesday deterring pedestrians, bicyclists and even a few cars from trying to cross Third Street at Sherman Avenue.

"We don't want people stepping in the tar and tracking up the new sidewalks," Young said, pointing out an alternative route to get around the paving job. "I'm not trying to be mean or anything."

Young and Torres - who work for Contractors Northwest, Inc. - said most people were understanding, but they encountered a few grumpy people too.

"I had two ladies who got mad and said they were never coming downtown again," Torres said. "They were upset because they had to walk around."

Coeur d'Alene Asphalt, a subcontractor on the McEuen Park project, is paving a two-block section of Third Street from Front Avenue to Lakeside Avenue.

While the construction has been frustrating for some, Keith Erickson, a spokesman for the city, said it should wrap up by 5 p.m. Friday.

"Third Street should be paved and striped for two-way traffic by Friday afternoon," he said, adding the signals should be functioning by then.

Northbound traffic on Third will be able to turn either direction on Sherman Avenue, but will only be able to turn east on Lakeside Avenue. Southbound traffic will not be affected.

Young said business owners have been fairly understanding so far.

"What do you do? There is just so much going on," Torres said. "It'll be nice when it's done."

Sandra Kay at Sandra Kay's Boutique on Sherman had a similar attitude toward the construction.

"Really, what can you do?" she said. "It's the final step and it hurts some of us deeply, but it has to be done."

Johnny and Carolyn Berry, owners of Wiggett's Antique Mall on Fourth Street said the year-long construction project has been brutal on their business.

"We are down way over 50 percent," Johnny said, adding they lost approximately $160,000 last year. "And now there is a rumor going around where people are telling us that they heard we are closed.

"Despite all rumors, Wiggett's is opened and will remain opened."

The Berrys said they wished the city would plan the closures more in advance. If the city is going to close a street or eliminate parking, they should have alternatives to minimize the impact, they said.

"If they close a road they should open another one for the traffic," Carolyn said.

Johnny said that business has started picking back up to normal levels this month, but he said when he came in to work Wednesday, he couldn't even access his parking area.

"They said they were going to open the stairwells to the new parking garage on Feb. 19, then it was March 19, and then it was April 19 and they just opened them a couple of weeks ago," he said.

Ron Reeves, who works at Prim's Smoke Shop on Sherman, said business has been down for them as well.

"We are down 7 percent," he said. "But it may pay off in the long run. That's what we are hoping for, anyway."