Mayor Danny Breen says he sympathizes with Duckworth Street business owners caught in the middle of War Memorial renovations, especially when it comes to communication.

The key downtown thoroughfare was shut down earlier this week as construction continues on a remodeling of the War Memorial, including addition of a tomb for an unknown solider, in time for July 1 of next year.

No one objects to the project itself; it’s the closure of the street without notice, and eventual loss of parking spaces, that has businesses irate.

Breen notes the project is being led by the provincial government, with no direct city involvement. But he knows all too well the importance of keeping businesses in the loop.

“I do know that communication is very important when you’re dealing with businesses—businesses in the downtown in particular,” he said. “When we went through the Water Street project, communications was a big part of it. Businesses require certainty and need to be able to plan and change when they need to.”

Duckworth Street is expected to reopen later this week.