There are plenty of things most of us would rather do than idle in roadway congestion while nearby behemoth backhoes fill our cars with the heavy scent of exhaust.

The North Kitsap Herald newsroom staff even came up with a few ideas of more pleasant expenditures of time:

Walking uphill in 100 degree heat, anyone? Or how about getting a haircut from Edward Scissorhands? Who doesn’t enjoy that itchy feeling of limbs covered in mosquito bites? Eating a spoonful of compost was even tossed onto the table.

Perhaps our writers’ imaginations got away from us, but the fact remains the same: Road construction is the pits. No detour around it.

But what doesn’t send you running for the compost pile makes you stronger, right?

While State Route 305 in Poulsbo is inching closer than ever to completion, Suquamish is seeing its own share of roadway blues this summer. Augusta Avenue between Center and Geneva streets is scheduled for closure from June 30 to Sept. 12. Detour signs will direct traffic from Division Street to Geneva, meaning motorists can still flow through town but they’ll miss the business core.

Those business owners, however, rely on this summer season to make the majority of their profits, including Bob Rowden, owner of Bella Luna Pizzeria, who makes a quarter of his annual earnings in just two of the summer months.

“They say it’s not going to be closed down here but it might as well be,” Rowden said Tuesday. “I bet we only see 10 percent of the normal traffic this summer.”

We know road construction is necessary — and we’re pretty certain it’s not a conspiracy to make you late, waste your gas or ruin your day — but let’s not forget about those Suquamish businesses. Let’s not leave them and their summertime glory in a lurch. Though it may be tougher to get to them, they’re still there all the same.

Augusta will remain open, officially to Center Street. From there locals and tourists can explore on foot, fill their bellies with some tasty food and beverage and frolic in the sun.

So hoof it as a pedestrian or hunker down for a little extra roadway maneuvering. Tune in a favorite song on the radio, tip your hats to the hardworking crews making our streets better, and keep those Suquamish businesses in mind.

Afterall, we hear chewing compost is about as bad as it gets.