Rochester Road Construction Disrupts Troy Small Businesses

Ongoing roadwork to widen the corridor is cutting into bottom lines for local shops and restaurants.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:18pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of simple, premium objects arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background. The objects, such as a cracked piggy bank, a bent traffic cone, and a partially obscured 'Open' sign, symbolize the challenges faced by small businesses during construction projects.As construction disrupts foot traffic and access, Troy's small businesses struggle to keep their doors open.Troy Today

Small business owners along Rochester Road in Troy, Michigan are struggling with the impact of ongoing construction to widen the road into a six-lane corridor. Businesses like High Score Ice Cream and Arcade and a local Indian restaurant report significant drops in foot traffic and sales due to confusing traffic patterns, blocked entrances, and reduced parking. While they understand the need for the project, the day-to-day challenges are taking a toll, leading owners to expand hours, offer promotions, and hope for an increase in customers once the construction is completed by the end of 2026.

Why it matters

The Rochester Road construction project is a major infrastructure investment for the city of Troy, but it is also disrupting the daily operations and financial health of the small businesses that line the corridor. These local shops and restaurants are the lifeblood of the community, and their struggles highlight the delicate balance between progress and preserving the character of a neighborhood.

The details

The construction began late last year and has been underway for months, with crews tearing up parking lots, blocking entrances, and creating confusing traffic patterns that make it difficult for customers to access the businesses. Richard Kowalski, owner of High Score Ice Cream and Arcade, said his foot traffic has dropped significantly, leading him to expand hours and offer more promotions to try to make up for the lost sales. An employee at a nearby Indian restaurant reported a similar drop in business, with their popular Tuesday special seeing orders plummet from around 35 to just 10-15.

  • Construction on the Rochester Road widening project began in late 2025.
  • The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The players

Richard Kowalski

The owner of High Score Ice Cream and Arcade, a business located along the Rochester Road construction zone.

City of Troy

The local government overseeing the Rochester Road widening project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

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What they’re saying

“If you've never been here before, you're not going to fight all this construction.”

— Richard Kowalski, Owner, High Score Ice Cream and Arcade

“I've been doing a lot of specials like Monday dollar-off shakes, Tuesday 'two-scoop Tuesday'.”

— Richard Kowalski, Owner, High Score Ice Cream and Arcade

What’s next

The city of Troy's communications director stated that construction on the Rochester Road widening project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The Rochester Road construction project in Troy highlights the challenges small businesses face when major infrastructure projects disrupt the daily flow of customers. While the completed road may ultimately benefit these local shops and restaurants, the short-term impacts are significant, requiring owners to get creative with promotions and extended hours just to keep their doors open. This story underscores the delicate balance between progress and preserving the character of a community.