Kim Hersh, owner of A Little Bit of Heaven, puts together a lunch at her Spring Grove eatery. Because the bridge that carries Route 116 over the Codorus Creek is out for the next nine months, Hersh and other local business owners have scrambled to boost exposure. (Bil Bowden photo)

Don Stannick readily admits he doesn't reference Shakespeare often, but the Jackson Township man said he can't help but describe reaction to a Spring Grove detour as much ado about nothing.

"It hasn't stopped me from making my usual stops," he said.

One of those stops is Papertown Dairy Bar and Restaurant at 267 N. Main St. Workers there said they were concerned initially that road construction would disrupt business, but the impact actually has been minimal.

"We were worried at first that we'd lose business and figured it would come back eventually, but we haven't really lost business," said Wendy Runkle, a waitress who was working there on a busy Tuesday afternoon.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's

Workers build a temporary landing in the Codorus Creek for construction equipment that will demolish the Route 116 bridge next week. (Bil Bowden photo)
$4 million construction project to replace the bridge that carries Route 116 over Codorus Creek, at the south end of Spring Grove, is causing a split detour and road closure for the next nine months.

And though business owners along North Main Street are seeing fewer of the 17,000 vehicles that typically traveled the road each day, they say the dip in traffic hasn't affected their bottom lines.

"The locals have really stepped up," said Jesse Drake, co-owner of A Little Bit of Heaven, a coffee shop at 245 N. Main St.

Strategy: To mitigate any potential losses during the road closure, the coffee shop has launched a lunch delivery service to help keep business thriving.

"The streets are slower, but our numbers are the same," Drake said.

Just around the corner, Famous Hot Weiner is seeing the same as well.

"We really haven't been impacted," said Eric Yealy, manager of the chain restaurant which opened on North Main Street a little more than a year ago.

Weekends are the shop's busiest time, and Friday and Saturday yielded the same foot traffic as usual. If that changes, Famous Hot Weiner might consider some specials to attract more customers, he said.

A needed project: Ronni and John Verity drove there this week from their Spring Grove home to grab a bite for lunch, they said. And while it took a little longer, it wasn't enough of an annoyance to make them cook at home.

"I think we went about 3 miles further than usual, but it wasn't too bad," John said.

"That bridge really needed done, and detours are part of that," Ronni said.

The existing bridge is 89 years old and is considered structurally deficient, a PennDOT spokesman said.

It is 135 feet long and 26 feet wide and will be replaced by a new bridge that's 153 feet long and 40 feet wide. That expanse will allow for two lanes and a sidewalk.

"It's definitely something that needed to be fixed," said Susie Stepina, a stylist at Salon Utopia on North Main Street.

Business at the salon hasn't dipped -- in fact, a new client showed up Tuesday.

"It's not a big deal," Stepina said. "The work needed to be done. If we have to drive an extra mile because of it, it's not the end of the world."

The route: For the next nine months, Route 116 is closed to through traffic between Church Street in Spring Grove and Rockery Road in North Codorus Township.

A split detour is being used in the interim. Route 116 East traffic is using Lehman Road, Stoverstown Road, Salem Road, Route 616, U.S. Route 30 and Route 116 West. Route 116 West traffic is using Hanover Street, Menges Mills Road, Old Hanover Road, Jacobs Mills Road and Route 116 East.

-- Reach Candy Woodall at cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.