Townsend Drive traffic shift starts Monday

The Michigan Department of Transportation is alerting commuters about changes coming to the Townsend Drive construction project. The stretch of US-41 near Michigan Tech will see the road reduced to one lane in each direction, with a wider median. That is expected to lessen the danger to students who cross the road on foot or bike.

When crews begin to tear up the southbound lanes, vehicles heading in that direction will be shifted onto the remaining north lane that has just been reconstructed. Traffic going north will be detoured onto Cliff Drive through the campus, passing by the Mineral and Materials Building and the backside of the Chem-Sci and Mechanical Engineering structures.

MDOT says the $9 million project “includes converting the four-lane boulevard section to two lanes with designated turn lanes at major intersections, widening College Avenue to add a center left-turn lane, storm sewer improvements, and city sanitary sewer and water main replacements.” Next year will see work as far as Isle Royale Street in downtown Houghton.