On a busy stretch that feeds downtown lunch crowds and Sunday services, months of Memphis Light, Gas and Water roadwork are boxing in small businesses and a neighborhood church. Owners say the timing and communication have been so rough that one restaurateur briefly weighed cutting through his own fence just to keep customers coming in.
With traffic squeezed and access points shifting, merchants along the North Parkway and Manassas corridor worry the project could starve them of the weekday and weekend rush that keeps their doors open.
MLGW's plan and timeline
Action News 5 reported that the eastbound North Parkway at Manassas shut down on Feb. 13 so crews could install underground electric infrastructure, with the work expected to run for about three months. The outlet detailed a detour that sends drivers south on Manassas to Lane, east to Ayers, and back up to North Parkway, and noted that Dunlap Street north of Lane would be closed to through traffic for the duration.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water has promoted the project on its own site as part of ongoing infrastructure work in the area, according to MLGW.
Merchants say they weren't given enough notice
Several nearby businesses told LocalMemphis they felt blindsided by the shutdown, saying they received little beyond automated text alerts before barricades and detours went up.
Bobby Bradley, who runs longtime barbecue staple Cozy Corner, told the station he is worried customers simply will not be able to reach the restaurant for much of the construction period. He said he was so frustrated by the traffic pattern that he briefly considered cutting a section of his gate to carve out an alternate way in from Manassas.
Church leaders warn entrances could be blocked
The squeeze is not just on restaurants and shops. Monroe Ballard, pastor of Friendship Church of the Nazarene, told LocalMemphis the closures "could block both entrances to the church property" if they stretch on for months.
Ballard warned that churches, businesses and other organizations nearby may struggle to survive if congregants and customers cannot easily park, pull in for pickup orders or even figure out how to get to the block at all.
Why this stretch matters
North Parkway at Manassas is a crucial connector between downtown and Midtown, with midday and weekend traffic helping prop up long-running spots such as Cozy Corner, which has held that corner for decades, according to the Memphis Flyer.
This is not the first time utility work has rattled Manassas. A separate monthlong project in 2024 also rerouted drivers and snarled local access, as detailed in coverage of a major Manassas utility upgrade.
What's next and where to get updates
MLGW is asking drivers to follow posted detour signs, give themselves extra time and reach out directly with questions or concerns. The utility says project details and contact information are available in its online updates and original news release.
For more information, MLGW lists its customer line at 901-544-6549 and its website at mlgw.com. Business owners along the corridor say they want more than automated alerts: they are pushing for clearer timelines and more direct conversations with both MLGW and city officials as the work drags on.
