An upcoming road closure in Waterloo has some business owners worried about its impact on their livelihoods – and suggestions a unique idea to help improve the situation.

The intersection of Erb and Caroline streets will close for an estimated four months, starting next Monday.

That closure means drivers will have to learn yet another new route around the uptown, although the effect should be mitigated somewhat by the King/Union and King/William intersections opening before Erb/Caroline closes.

At the same time, the entrance to Waterloo Town Square from Caroline should reopen.

Still, the closure has some business owners worried – particularly those at the north edge of the Waterloo Town Square area, where parking is only accessible from Erb Street.

With the one-way Erb Street closing at Caroline, those entrances to the parking lot will be inaccessible.

The Uptown Waterloo BIA is floating one possible way to keep the parking lot usable.

“We’re asking that the city consider allowing a right-hand turn off of King Street onto Erb Street for the short period of time … that Erb/Caroline is going to be not accessible,” BIA executive director Patti Brooks said in an interview.

In effect, that would make Erb into a two-way street for the small stretch between King Street and the construction zone.

Teresa Huegle owns Angie’s, a restaurant whose customers typically use the Erb Street parking lot.

She says she likes the idea of temporarily opening up Erb for two-way traffic, especially when otherwise her restaurant would become part of an “island” that many might find difficult to reach.

Her main concern, she says, is that the work wraps up before post-secondary students return in September.

“It’s about getting the job done and life back to normal in our community,” she said.

As Erb Street is a regional road, any changes to its configuration would need to be approved by regional council.

Coun. Tom Galloway says he doesn’t anticipate that being a major hurdle to clear.

“As long as the staff can find a way to make it work technically and legally, then I think it’s a great idea,” he said.