R.D Johnson employee Koty Coates rakes gravel Monday at the intersection of North Second and Locust streets.

Drivers on their way to Johnny’s Tavern and other nearby North Lawrence businesses, including a mobile home park, must once again navigate a new route.

Drivers must use a temporary dirt entrance that was opened last week just north of the Kansas River bridge and wraps behind the establishments. The new detour is just one of the many route changes that have been used, as workers expand the intersection of North Second and Locust streets.

Rick Renfro, owner of Johnny’s Tavern, said the entrance is just another obstacle to an already-complicated intersection. He said he receives 10 or more calls a day from confused or frustrated customers.

“I’ve been selling a lot of sympathy burgers,” Renfro said.

Despite the sympathy, business has suffered since construction began. Compared to last year’s pre-construction numbers, sales were down 30 percent in February and 40 percent in March.

The project began last July with the goal of widening North Second Street from the Kansas River Bridge to the railroad underpass, allowing for a left-turn lane. The project also includes replacing a water main and improving storm sewer drainage in the area.

Shoeb Uddin, city engineer, said the entrance to Johnny’s should re-open early next month. But left turns will be prohibited from both the northbound and southbound lanes until the project is complete, which is scheduled for late July.