Business suffering from bridges' removal

I am the owner of The Farm To Market Country Store which is located between the two bridges currently under construction on County Route 8 in North Bangor. Neither I nor any of the area residents were ever approached by anyone from Franklin County and made aware of the fact that they were going to pull both bridges out at the same time. When the rumors started to fly in April, I called both Franklin County Highway Superintendent Gary Lewis and Perras Construction out of Massena and expressed my concerns to them about what closing both bridges would do to my business. They both assured me that if both bridges did come out it would be for a brief period of time. Well, this is what really happened.

Perras Construction moved in on June 25, blocked off both ends and detoured traffic in the opposite direction of my store. On July 6 Perras Construction decided to tear out the other bridge. Why? Tell me, Franklin County, is it also true that this company has never done work like this? Is it not your responsibility to make sure that you hire the best for the job, not the cheapest? Did it not state in the contract that both bridges were not supposed to be removed at the same time?

Shame on you for hiring a company from out of town who obviously could give a hoot about a local business. These people don't spend any money in my store. I have let two employees go and have stopped all deliveries due to the lack of business. I am losing money hand over fist. Maybe if Gary Lewis or Perras Construction would have been honest with me in the beginning I could have planned accordingly.

So here we sit waiting for the mystery crane to show up. Oh, but they are all so sorry. They understand my situation. No, you don't. So stop telling me you do, because I am done talking and listening to all the lies. If anyone knows if I have any legal ground to sue Franklin County and Perras Construction for lost revenue and my employees lost wages, please contact me at (518) 483-7671.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge Upstate, Bare Hill and Franklin Correctional Facilities for their patronage and all the local people who have managed to find us and had to travel down those horrible dirt roads. Your business is what is keeping me afloat.

Jane Degon

Malone