Claims the streetworks in Willow Street are going over time are being refuted by Tauranga City Council.
Willow Street Cartridge World franchise owner Peter East says retailers were originally promised the streetworks, which have contributed to two business closures so far, would take 25-30 working days.

Peter East.

Work started on June 17 at 9am; the contractors put up the fencing and went home at 4pm, according to Peter's record.
Work has now continued for 39 days. Peter was given a worst case scenario of the project continuing for 10 weeks, if there were any significant archaeological finds.
With two weeks to go to completion, the project will have meant 50 working days when customers have had difficulty accessing the Willow Street businesses.
'My real gripe is they are being economical with the truth, that's how it appears to me.
Why aren't they working weekends? Why aren't they working nights? Why is this taking so long? This is just beyond belief.”
When business owners presented their misgivings to council staff before the works began, Peter says their concerns were ignored.
'They didn't want to know about the economic realities. You could see the whites of their eyes as they rolled back in their heads.
'The mayor is supposed to have seen the retailers – I wouldn't know him if he walked in.”
City council transportation manager Martin Parkes says this is week seven of a 10 week project.
'We are still within the programme that we put out.”
He is hoping to have one lane open by the end of this week, so retailers' customers can park in Willow Street.
They will also have an opportunity to park in Willow Street at the completion of the project – before the buses move from Durham Street.