Frustrated business owners in the 700 block of Caroline Street on Monday were questioning the timing of stormwater work and sidewalk repairs that have closed the street in front of their businesses during a peak tourism month.

Key West utility officials said they have limited flexibility with the schedule because the work is being funded with federal stimulus money and must be completed and invoiced by July 1.

"This is the most important month of the year for us and it took one customer a half-hour to reach our store today," said David Symons, owner of Blue clothing boutique. "I almost feel like sending the city a bill."

Caroline Street will be closed from Elizabeth to William streets this week, forcing customers to reach Blue and other area businesses from William Street, rather than from the more familiar Simonton Street approach, Symons said.

The construction work is twofold. Crews are installing new sidewalks that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and are installing a stormwater gravity well that will alleviate some flooding in the area, Assistant City Manager David Fernandez said.

"I've got a bunch of money to spend and the schedule is aggressive," he said. "The contractors have a very short timeline and we have to design these things, bid them and get them built or else we'd be walking away from millions of dollars in infrastructure money."

Utilities Director Jay Gewin said he understands the business owners' frustration. He said crews are trying to have Caroline Street finished and reopened by Monday.

Work on Elizabeth Street, though, will continue into next week, Gewin said, encouraging business owners to call his office for scheduling updates.

"I understand their plight and we want to do everything we can to mitigate their impact, but there's only so much we can do," Fernandez said. "This week will be the worst of it."

Theo Glorie, who owns the Coffee Plantation, said he understands the work needs to be done, but he questioned the size of the area that has to be closed.

"Everybody's so afraid of getting sued, but it seems a little over the top to me," Glorie said. "The corner of Elizabeth and Caroline does flood heavily, so it's a job that needs to be done, but they're closing too big an area based on the size of the job."

For more information, call the city utilities office at 305-809-3902.

mbolen@keysnews.com