But the truckers backing in and out of his machine shop don’t, he said.

Already, an electrical outlet near a new curb-side tree has been damaged. And Dale Dickinson, owner of Machine Parts Service in the 700 block of East Fourth, said this probably would happen again.

“I’ve got 40-foot trailers loaded with 60,000 pounds of steel backing in and out of here,” Dickinson said.

Dickinson said that during street renovation, his driveway was narrowed from 40 feet to 25 feet. Also, a tree was planted directly in front of his unloading ramp.

Instead of having a straight shot into his building, trucks must now maneuver to make the slight turn.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s not going to be a big deal,” Dickinson said. “But that 1 percent of the time it’s going to be a problem.”

Also something to consider is that other vehicles use his driveway as a turn-around at that end of town.

As Dickinson spoke, an extended-length van turned around in his driveway, narrowly missing the tree and electrical outlet.

“It hasn’t been up for 30 days yet and it’s already been broken,” Dickinson said.

Butch Rodgers, city superintendent, said he had checked out the situation when Dickinson pointed it out earlier this spring.

“We looked at it and we thought he had ample room to back in and do what they needed to do,” Rodgers said.

Jon Carlson, project inspector for BG Consultants, Lawrence, said Dickinson’s new driveway was designed for a tractor trailer truck. Architects had looked into Dickinson’s complaint, he said.

“The turning radius for the driveway is ample,” he said.

Dickinson said he accepts part of the blame, because he failed to attend planning meetings about street renovation. But, he said, at that time it was his understanding the renovation project would stop at Main Street, west of his location.

He’s hoping the city would agree to repair the approach to his building.

“It needs to be at least a straight shot out the door,” Dickinson said. “You can’t back a trailer straight in here. I own the business and I can’t do it, so how can I expect other truckers who aren’t here every day to do it? That’s affecting my business.”