Close one door and another opens up, or so the saying goes.

When state officials announced they would close southbound Interstate 295 from West Gardiner to Topsham for three months this summer for repaving, the groans from residents and business owners along the potential detour routes were wicked loud. The increased local traffic would lead to gridlock, they said. It would be dangerous. Kids wouldn't be able to ride their bikes. Emergency vehicles wouldn't be able to get through. People wouldn't be able to turn out of their driveways during the morning commute.

Well, it turns out it's not all bad news for detour-area folks. Audrey Wiler, who works at Pat's Convenience Store, the corner gas station in Richmond along the detour, says "business has been great." Similarly, Joe Viselli, who owns a seasonal antique shop just north on Route 201 says that he's doing really well because of the detour.

"In the past week since the interstate closed, we have already done a quarter of the business we did in all of last year," Viselli told reporter Meghan Malloy.

Which just goes to show you that while change is often, if not always, hard, it's not always bad. Next thing you know, we'll be hearing complaints when they re-open Interstate 295.