Florida Street facelift continues

MOBILE, Ala. - Mobile City council members approve more than $430,000 for road work on Florida Street. Merchants are keeping their fingers crossed the road will be open in time for holiday shoppers.

Gardberg's Furniture has been in business since the 1950's at the same spot on Florida Street.

"I've been here about 46 years, most of my adult life," said David Gardberg.

In all those years, David Gardberg has never experienced anything like this.

"Certainly, it is frustrating and difficult for people to get here," said Gardberg.

Since 2007, the city of Mobile has been putting in a new drainage system along Florida Street.

Construction hit a bump while working on the railroad, leaving the street impassable. Tuesday, city council members approved more than $431,000 to fix the problem.

"Problem with streets like Florida, once you get into and dig down, you find problems you've got to address or they'll come back to haunt you," said Mobile Mayor Sam Jones.

Florida Street merchants said what scares them the most is that the construction will throw holiday sales off track.

Gardberg said November and December are his busiest months.

The city hopes to complete putting culverts under the railroad by mid-November, and open up just in time for the holidays.

But Mayor Jones said it could close down again the first of the year.

"We'll probably have to go back in after that, because of some sewer lines that need to be reworked," offered Mayor Jones.

That's news to Gardberg, who said he hasn't seen any plans for January. He was hoping it would all be over.

"I would love for it to be over because there is a lot of aggravation, trucks turning around in our parking lot cars frustrating," said Gardberg.

Gardberg wants everyone to know his business is open, along with all the other Florida Street shops caught in the construction zone.

City council members unanimously approved the $431,000 to put in the railroad culverts.