A $3 million construction project that will close the Rainbow Bridge for 10 days later this month has some small-business owners in Hale'iwa concerned over the timing of the project.

The big wave season is just around the corner, and that's the time most merchants in the beach town make the bulk of their sales, said Michael Lyons, vice president of the North Shore Neighborhood Board. Lyons said the community wants the bridge — an 85-year-old landmark that crosses the Anahulu Stream — fixed but would prefer the work be done at night or around the clock to keep the bridge closure to a minimum.

As it stands, motorists will still be able to access the beach town by using the Hale'iwa Bypass route and Weed Circle, but construction work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day.

"We service half the Island's tourists on the North Shore, and to have this bridge closed for 10 days, well, we feel taken advantage of," Lyons said. "This would never happen in Hawai'i Kai or Kailua, but in the North Shore we're continually being taken advantage of.

"We want the job done, but we want it done when it won't hurt our community — the tourists and the moms and dads who have to get to the store."

Lyons said the community was notified last week about the bridge work at a board meeting, and it raised a huge concern for small-business owners.

Marvin Char, city Department of Design and Construction civil division chief, said working around the clock was not an option. "Not working at night has a lot to do with working crews," Char said. "Anytime you go beyond the 10-hour work day, you need another crew and lights.

"We'll be removing the asphalt road bed over the bridge deck and come in with a concrete overlay. The bridge is so narrow that it would be impossible to keep one lane open."

Jock Sutherland, a 45-year resident of Hale'iwa and an owner of a roofing business, said now is a good time to do the work.

If the city started during the professional surfing season — November and December — then that would have a dire effect on the community, he said.

"I don't think too many people will be bothered," Sutherland said. "Luckily we have the bypass road."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.