Construction Update: Michigan Avenue Project is 3 Weeks Behind as Traffic Flips

(From City of Saline Manager Todd Campbell)

Hoffman Bros. crews have made the successful flip from the south side of Michigan Ave to the north side this past week.  Crews will continue moving forward towards project completion.  The project is currently three weeks behind schedule and the contractor has requested an extension of time.  MDOT is evaluating to determine if they will approve all, part or none of the time extension request from Hoffman Bros.  However, even with the project being behind, Hoffman Bros. is planning to complete the Michigan Ave project in its entirety this construction season; not requiring additional work in 2017. 

Note: MDOT rules require that the contractor must stop work by 3pm on Friday, September 2nd due to the Labor Day weekend.  The contractor will return to work on Tuesday, September 6th. 

The City of Saline and Saline Main Street are partnering on a Michigan Ave Midway Celebration event for next Thursday, September 8th from 11am-1pm.  The public is invited to come downtown to check out the new Michigan Ave and S. Ann Arbor St infrastructure improvements and enjoy a free box lunch.  Please come and join us.

The City of Saline is selling pieces of the old street car tracks on a first come first served basis at City Hall, for those folks that would like to own a piece of Saline history.  The cost is $25 for a 12” section of track; a portion of the proceeds will be used to pay for the cost of cutting up the track with the balance going towards a fundraiser to assist in paying for the new downtown streetscape.

Week of September 6th

Traffic Information
The N. Harris Street intersection will be closed beginning next Wednesday.  This closure is scheduled for approximately two weeks. 

City staff encourages everyone to slow down, be patient and obey the traffic signs.  In addition, please do not take short-cuts through private property in an attempt to avoid the current traffic shifts/detour routes, as it is illegal and unsafe.  And please pause to let people out of their driveways. 

Pedestrian Traffic
Good news!  The pedestrian access from the bridge east towards downtown is open.  Some, but not all of the concrete path has been installed.  In an attempt to provide pedestrian access for residents west of the bridge, the contractor has put in asphalt for a temporary path in a few locations to complete the pedestrian access route.  The temporary asphalt patches will be replaced with concrete later in the project.  Access to businesses will continue to be maintained.  Please follow the signs, obey the barricades, and watch your step.  Pedestrian detours may change periodically for the duration of the project, depending on the specific work that is being done.  Please pay attention to the pedestrian detour signs and follow them accordingly. 

There are parts of the construction zone that are not open to pedestrian traffic.  There are also signs designating alternate pedestrian routes throughout the construction zone.  Please obey the signs and seek alternate pedestrian routes that don’t include walking down the middle of re-routed traffic lanes.

Construction Activities
Tuesday:  finish asphalt milling.  Continue brick work and tree removal. Water and storm sewer work.

Wednesday:  finish asphalt milling if not completed Tuesday. Multiple crews on pavement removals. More water and storm sewer work.

Thursday and Friday: continue pavement removals. Sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer work.

Decorative lighting installation will continue.  The contractor is working diligently as they install new downtown decorative lights on the south side of Michigan Ave and remove existing decorative lights for refurbishing.  The plan is to have at least some decorative lights up and working on the south side prior to removing the existing decorative lights on the north side so there are always working lights downtown.  However, if this is not possible, the contractor will do their best to minimize the time where there are not any working downtown decorative lights.  

Please stay tuned for updates as the Michigan Ave project progresses.  The City of Saline staff will be providing a minimum of a weekly update and sometimes daily informational postings depending on what is taking place in the construction zone. 

Remember to visit our local Saline businesses during and after this great project and look for the Pave It Forward logo and the fun promotions being provide by Saline Main Street and the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce.                                  

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