With construction to the bridge at the interchange of Interstate 695 and Frederick Road due to begin in the next weeks, Frederick Road business owners are wary of how congestion resulting from construction will impact sales.

Though construction on the Maryland State Highway Administration project began in May, its effect will become more pronounced once lane shifts on Catonsville's main street likely begin soon after the Fourth of July holiday.

"We don't want to start something real dramatic before the Fourth," said David Buck, a spokesman for the State Highway Administration. "After the Fourth is when we'll start ramping it up."

According to a release from the State Highway Administration, the 53-year-old bridge is "nearing the end of its useful life" and the project is necessary in order to allow for the future expansion of I-695.

When the nearly three-year, $20 million project is completed, the bridge will have double turn lanes, a bicycle lane, wider sidewalks and a new traffic signal system that will theoretically decrease congestion.

Until then, though, traffic figures to slow as construction crews shift east- and west-bound traffic to one half of the bridge while they work on the other side.

Increased traffic could force drivers to take different routes, a gloomy prospect for Mary Branning.

Branning, the owner of Lucy's Paradise Café located east of the bridge on Frederick Road, said it's impossible to know what affect the construction will have.

"We have a lot of customers that are driving down Frederick Road on their way to work, so it's possible they won't take this exit," said Branning. "I'm just holding my breath."

Branning said construction to the sidewalks in front of her business hurt sales last year and that she might make a map to guide customers around the construction and to her restaurant on 6429 Frederick Road.

Branning called the construction to the bridge "sorely needed" and expects her business would return to normal, though not increase, once it's completed.

"I don't think it's going to bring more people because they built a new bridge," Branning said. "I don't think it's going to help business at all."

Across the street, Peter Lee, co-owner of Cecil Shifftlett Paradise Motors for about five months, said the construction's impact on his customers was a concern.

But there is also a much more personal worry.

"My travel from home to work will be inconvenient," said Lee, who lives in Columbia and currently has a 15-minute commute.

Lee said he didn't know about the construction before he purchased his business on 6504 Frederick Road, which does automobile repairs and sells used cars, and hasn't yet devised a strategy for drawing customers during construction.

On the west side of the bridge, Carol Warner doesn't see much loss to her business, which draws customers from Towson and Glen Burnie in addition to Catonsville.

But she does expect an impact in other ways.

"We've been telling customers, 'It's going to happen, so you better plan on it,'" said Warner, owner of Perfect Touch Hair Salon and Day Spa on 402 Frederick Road, about 500 feet west of the bridge.

Warner said congestion already plagues the area, especially during rush hour and when the schools let out.

"It makes (my customers) late now," said Warner, who added that the construction is necessary and the finished project should look good. "Sometimes we have to reschedule them if they're too late."

Despite the inevitability of rescheduling appointments and tending to frustrated customers, Warner expects her customers will keep coming despite the construction.

"These customers are dedicated," said Warner, who has owned her shop for 28 years. "They'll be late, but they'll be here."