A Sisters businessman is trying to help downtown Redmond businesses and set a precedent for road projects that affect businesses.

Richard Esterman says he sent a letter to O-DOT and local and state politicians outlining how the downtown road construction project in Redmond will affect already struggling businesses.

"They should be financially compensated for maybe help out with the rent. If you can see their books are showing that, due to construction, they're 70% down or 50% down, and it's a legitimatize reason, I think they should be financially compensated."

ODOT spokesman Rex Holloway says they cannot by law compensate businesses.  

"We’re not allowed under state law to compensate businesses for losses. And we cannot spend gas tax dollars for that."

Holloway says they are willing to work with the businesses to provide the best information to the public, so they will know how to get to downtown businesses while construction in ongoing.