Monday Construction Blues!

Monday Blues thanks to today's Road Construction! 

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — The city of Portage will continue its reconstruction of South Westnedge Avenue from South Shore Drive to Melody Avenue at the I-94 Business Loop at Olmstead Road and Lake Street Monday, while the city of Portage and Kalamazoo County Road Commission continue road projects of their own.

City of Portage

• Project: Water main replacement and reconstruction/resurfacing of South Westnedge Avenue from South Shore Drive to Melody Avenue.
• Detour: Roads will be closed to through traffic. Drivers will be rerouted to Osterhout Avenue to Shaver Road to West Melody Avenue for the duration of the project. Residential traffic will be maintained at all times.
• Info: The project consists of replacement of the water main, milling and replacing existing road surface, storm drain improvements and sidewalk upgrades necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Water main replacement began the week of July 14.
• Start date: July 7, 2014
• End date: Oct. 10, 2014
• Contact: Jereme Rowland, Project Manager, City of Portage Department of Transportation and Utilities, 269-329-4422.

City of Kalamazoo

• Project: Oakland Drive at Parkview Avenue intersection reconstruction.
• Detour: Traffic will be maintained with one lane in each direction throughout the project. Turns onto Oakland or Parkview will be detoured to Whites Road as necessary.
• Info: The project includes adding a through lane on Parkview Avenue and southbound Oakland Drive, replacement of the existing traffic signal, intersection sidewalk ramp improvements, new curb and gutter, new sidewalk and new pavement markings. Utility companies are also currently working to relocate overhead utilities. Utility relocation is expected to be completed by June, depending on weather, and major work is expected to begin after.
• Start date: April 14, 2014
• End date: Sept. 5, 2014
• Contact: Debbie Jung, assistant engineer, 269-337-8927

• Project: Reconstruction/resurfacing of Drake Road from West Main (M-43) to Grand Prairie Road.
• Detour: The road will be closed to through traffic throughout construction and traffic will be rerouted to Nichols Road.
• Info: The portion of Drake between West Main and Canterbury will including milling and resurfacing of the top three inches of asphalt pavement. Work on Drake from Canterbury to Grand Prairie will include the removal and replacement of the road, sanitary sewer lead extensions, widening to three lanes and a right turn lane at Grand Prairie. A five-foot-wide concrete sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of Drake from the parking lot at West Main to the Grand Prairie intersection. The removal of some trees and the construction of two retaining walls will be needed in order to construct the sidewalk.
• Start date: June 17, 2014
• End date: Aug. 29, 2014
• Contact: Debbie Jung, assistant engineer, 269-337-8927

• Project: Enhancement of I-94 Business Loop Gateway, from Olmstead Road to Lake Street.
• Detour: The Lake Street intersection will see intermittent single-lane closures. Left turn lanes will be maintained at all times.
• Info: Decorative sign and landscaping improvements at the Olmstead and I-94 BL intersection. Stamped concrete and at landscaping at the Lake and I-94 BL intersection. Lane closures at Lake Street were taken down July 21, but there will be additional lane closures during sign and fence placement that have yet to be announced.
• Start date: July 14, 2014
• End date: Aug. 29, 2014
• Contact: Debbie Jung, assistant engineer, 269-337-8927

Kalamazoo County Road Commission

• Project: Reconstruction, widening and drain improvements on D Avenue at 2nd Street
• Community: Alamo Township
• Detour: Traffic will be detoured to 2nd Street to G Avenue to 6th Street.
• Info: Work includes shoulder widening, drainage improvements and adjustments to roadway elevations for sight distance improvements. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in the areas as the travel portion of the roadway may be narrowed at times.
• Start date: July 15, 2014
• End date: Late August 2014
• Contact: Geoff Wilson, project engineer, 269-381-3170 ext. 224

• Project: Gravel/pulverize/hot mix asphalt paving of Hart Drive from Owen Drive to 9th Street.
• Community: Alamo Township
• Detour: Road closed to through traffic.
• Start date: Week of July 7, 2014.
• End date: TBD
• Contact: Mark Worden, project superintendent, 269-381-3170 ext. 246

• Project: Gravel/pulverize/hot mix asphalt paving of Hart Drive from 3,800 feet west of 6th Street to 5,895 feet west of 6th Street.
• Community: Alamo Township
• Detour: Road closed to through traffic.
• Start date: Week of July 7, 2014.
• End date: TBD
• Contact: Mark Worden, project superintendent, 269-381-3170 ext. 246

• Project: Bridge replacement at East Michigan Avenue over Comstock Creek.
• Community: Comstock Township
• Detour: Traffic will be detoured to River Street, to King Highway (M-96), to Michigan Avenue.
• Start date: July 21, 2014
• End date: Mid-October 2014
• Contact: Ryan Minkus, project engineer, 269-381-3170 ext. 275

• Project: Resurfacing, widening, and installation of sidewalk and non-motorized trail at Drake Road from Grand Prairie Road to Ravine Road.
• Communities: Kalamazoo and Oshtemo Townships
• Detour: Traffic will be detoured to Grand Prairie Road, to Nichols Road, to Ravine Road.
• Info: Work includes resurfacing, HMA widening, construction of a left-turn lane at Grand Prairie, roadside drainage improvements, construction of a sidewalk on the Kalamazoo Township side between Grand Prairie and Squires Drive, construction of a non-motorized trail between Squires Drive and Ravine Road. Contractors begin work on storm sewer and hydrant replacements this week.
• Start date: June 3, 2014
• End date: Tentatively - Sept. 2, 2014
• Contact: Geoff Wilson, project engineer, 269-381-3170 ext. 224