A two-month restriction of on-street parking on Front Street began this week as part of Issaquah’s summer 2016 street improvements project.

The undertaking, headed by Issaquah Public Works Engineering, runs through early October, finishing up just in time for Salmon Days.

The entire batch of renovations includes three different projects. The section of Front Street between East Sunset Way and Northwest Alder Place will be made safer for pedestrians with the creation of new, wider sidewalks, improved street lights, flashing beacons at two mid-block crosswalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps.

The railroad crossing at Northeast Dogwood Street will be also replaced and remade to fit ADA standards. Additionally, from East Sunset Way to the bridge, Front Street will be overlaid with new asphalt, an improvement that Brianne Ross, senior transportation engineer, called “well overdue” in a video on the city’s website.

While crews were able to do initial work during night hours, this next phase also requires construction during the day, resulting in a ban on street parking between East Sunset Way and Northwest Alder Place. It is not only cars that will be forced out; businesses on the east side of the street with tables and chairs on the sidewalk will be required to move the furniture to the back sides of their buildings, said Warren Kagarise, city of Issaquah communications coordinator.

The sidewalk furniture removal should only last until July, but the street parking restrictions will continue into August, according to Kagarise.

Despite the lack of parking and sidewalk seating, the shops and restaurants will continue to welcome locals and summer day-trippers.

“We want everyone to know that the businesses are open,” Kagarise said, noting the city is “working hard” to “ensure access” to downtown businesses is kept open and clear for customers and delivery vehicles alike.

Kagarise said that the city has “done a lot of outreach” and in-person communication with the businesses to make sure everyone is aware of the situation.

The City of Issaquah created the hashtag #FrontStreetFlexible on Twitter to express the ability to adapt to the changes on Front Street.

Downtown Issaquah Association Executive Director Karen Donovan confirmed that the city “has been really good about letting people know what’s going on.”

However, some businesses are still a little wary of how a construction-filled street could affect trade during the middle of the warm-weather season.

“I think it’s going to affect the business,” said Ruben Garza of the restaurant at which he is a server, Las Margaritas on Front Street. He explained that during the summer, the restaurant gets between three and five customers a day who come in off Interstate 90 to ask directions and end up staying to eat. However, with a torn-up street, he doesn’t think that tourists would seek out the restaurant in this way anymore.

“To lose all the street parking will make it a nightmare,” declared Amber Smith, a supervisor at Stan’s Bar-B-Q on Front Street. “I heard the reason [for the construction] is to attract people to downtown, but where will people park in the meantime? Who’s going to come down here if there’s no parking?”

The restaurant is on the east side of the street and will therefore lose its outdoor street seating.

“We pay a permit to have outdoor seating,” Smith said. “It doesn’t make sense to take away that privilege.”

It is not only the loss of parking and seating that have small retailers and eateries concerned, but also the general upheaval and unpleasant side effects of construction work.

At Naturopathic Clinic on Front Street, office manager Karen Hanreiter said that the noise and shaking caused by drilling is “a concern of the masseuse and doctors” who will be caring for patients at the clinic.

“Construction is messy work and loud … there is a lot of dust,” said Smith, who doesn’t believe that kind of environment would be conducive to bringing in customers.

Donovan acknowledged the businesses’ fears, but said that she feels it will be worth it in the end.

“It’ll be great, it’s just a little disruptive right now … In the long run … it will enhance the town for years to come.”