Five months into the closure of the Telarah Street rail bridge, local businesses have felt the effect of reduced traffic flow in the area.
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Telarah Newsagency and Post Office owner Bruce Toghill said they have definitely lost business, as people are now bypassing the town completely to get through to Maitland.
He said they have relied a lot on their local customers, but have lost the people stopping in on their way to and from work.
“It’s definitely hurting us,” he said.
“[Now the bridge is closed] it’s out of their way.”
John Holland Rail, who is completing the works on behalf of Transport for NSW, have tried to assist the newsagency by putting up signs stating that the business is opened as usual.
But Mr Toghill is concerned that their customers won’t return even once the bridge is opened.
“They go somewhere else now,” he said.
“I hope they all come back again.”
Nevertheless he is keen to see the bridge re-open, and thinks the business will gradually see an improvement.
“At the end of the day, it’s progress,” he said.
Telarah Pharmacy pharmacist Gabrielle Slater is also looking forward to the bridge re-opening to make life easier for customers trying to get to the pharmacy.
The $5.7 million bridge is due to be completed by May.
