Motorists traveling east on Interstate 70 won't be able to use exit 5 for the next month, according to the West Virginia Division of Highways.

The Elm Grove/Triadelphia exit from I-70 east closed Monday as crews replace the approach slabs to a bridge near that exit. Despite the length of the closure, some business owners at the Elm Grove Crossing Mall near exit 5 said Monday they're not expecting a severe impact from the construction.

"It might take a little bit of a toll," said Dave Clark, president of Ron Baker Motors Inc., a car dealership across from Riesbeck Food Market.

Clark said the exit closure likely would be a deterrent only to those not familiar with the Elm Grove area.

He noted the westbound exit remains open, and eastbound traffic can leave I-70 via exit 4, Elm Grove, and reach the mall using National Road.

The lunch crowd at Hoss's Steak and Sea House was a bit thinner than normal, but not dramatically, according to manager Don Boyd. "We're aware of what's going on," he said.

Boyd said he's not expecting a significant drop in sales, noting many of the restaurant's customers come from Elm Grove and know how to get to the restaurant. He estimated Hoss's only gets 20 percent of its business from interstate traffic.

"We have a lot of regulars that come in," Boyd said. "We rely on them."

As of now, said Boyd, Hoss's wont be doing anything differently because of the closure. However, he remarked that could change if the road work takes longer than expected.

At Tractor Supply Co., team leader Henry McLaughlin isn't concerned at all because the westbound exit remains open. "Most of our business comes from that direction," he said, adding many of their patrons come from the Washington, Pa., and Claysville, Pa., areas.

The westbound entrance ramp to I-70 remains closed as bridge work continues on that side of the highway.

The exit closure is part of an ongoing bridge approach replacement project on I-70, funded with $3.6 million in federal money. The WVDOH targeted eight interstate bridges east of Wheeling, and work already has been completed at bridges spanning Stoolfire Road near Dallas Pike and Middle Creek road near Triadelphia.