CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Andrew Poulos and his family didn't want to fight city hall.

They only wanted to expand their restaurant, a popular Showmars that until 2003 was at 7605 University City Boulevard.

The city, however, wanted part of the land for a road-improvement project that's just gearing up today, in preparation for the opening of IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings store planned near University City Boulevard and North Tryon Street.

"Why go against something when you can go with it and benefit?" Poulos said, speaking from a larger, more handsome Showmars at 115 McCullough Drive, a short drive from the original site. "It put us in a better location."

As the Charlotte Department of Transportation unveiled plans for improving the flow of traffic near IKEA's site with two new intersections, some business owners in the projects' paths were designing schematics of their own.

They want a better location, too.

Most said the planned road improvements will give them what they want -- one way or another.

For many, the strategy is to weather the storm of bulldozers and barricades. CDOT estimates building the two new intersections along North Tryon Street will take about three years.

One intersection is at North Tryon Street and University City Boulevard. The other is nearby at Sandy Avenue.

"This is our plan. We want to see it happen," said Steve Magowan, owner of University Volvo, which opened in 1986.

He's a University City Partners board member. In that capacity, Magowan has offered input about road improvements along North Tryon Street.

"We've seen a lot, and this, too, will pass," Magowan said. "The new intersections will slow traffic, and that's good for business."

Fast Signs owner Keith Beaty said the road improvements are long overdue.

"We get a lot of complaints from our customers," he said. "Right now there's no easy way to get here from (Interstate) 85 except to go around and come back. I'm glad the intersection is going in. When they stop, they'll be right beside my business."

Yet Beaty also believes some motorists will avoid the area and his shop, at 7407 N. Tryon St. beside the southbound lanes. He'll do what's necessary.

"Most of my customers will call and I'll say, `I'll come to you,' " he said. "Service and quality keep us running."

At least one business is getting out before the terrain becomes more of a skills test. That could occur when construction of the two intersections begins in earnest, by early to mid-2009.

Mark Green will be long gone by then. The veterinarian expects that by June 2 he'll complete Mallard Creek Animal Hospital's consolidation at 2110 Ben Craig Drive. More of his customers are in that area now.

He opened that office in 2004 in anticipation of the road projects, for which voters approved money in a 1998 referendum.

"We realized we don't want to be an Independence Boulevard-type business that is put out of business by a major road construction project," Green said. "I didn't think my clients would want to fight through that."

Construction along Independence limited access to many businesses, blocking their driveways or changing access points. Traffic moves more quickly now with fewer slowdowns.

Green predicts a better outcome for North Tryon Street businesses near IKEA. Once construction is completed, the traffic signals will slow traffic.

He hopes the improvements will make his property at 7305 N. Tryon St. near Stetson Drive more attractive to buyers.

"We're, frankly, waiting to see what developer comes along," he said.

He and Magowan agree on the long-term benefits of the projects even if they have different views on how to take advantage of them.

"We're going to be here," Magowan said.

Subscribe to the Charlotte Observer