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As the Michigan Department of Transportation makes its way across the UP with a series of public meetings outlining its five year plan, Keweenaw residents joined the discussion and learned plans of some upcoming projects in the area including a large reconstruction project in Houghton.
The spring construction season has begun in Ontonagon County with road crews making repairs to area bridges.
“For this season in the Western UP we have a lot of resurfacing type projects. One project that’s starting today is the Ontonagon River Bridge. That’s an epoxy overlay which is surface coating applied to the deck of that bridge to preserve the deck, seal the deck and provide a very durable wearing surface for years to come. And there will also be some miscellaneous joint maintenance and patching on that bridge at the same time,” said MDOT Manager Rob Tervo.
Other bridge repairs in the Keweenaw Peninsula for this year include a maintenance project on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and repairs made to the Eagle River Wooden Bridge.
Upcoming projects for 2019 and 2020 include many resurfacing projects on US-41, US-141, and M-26. A major construction project is scheduled for 2021 in Houghton on Townsend and College Avenues.
“That’s going to be a reconstruction project where that pavement is going to be replaced. We’re adding a center left turn lane to College Avenue, and then Townsend Avenue, in front of the university, would be one lane in each direction similar to how it is on the east end of campus in front of Wadsworth Hall right now,” Tervo added.
Tervo reminds motorist to use caution when entering construction zones this season.
“It’s just going to be a busy construction season across the whole UP and we ask that people be patient, drive carefully, watch out for the orange barrels and give people a brake as you’re driving through those construction zones, and take a little extra time,” Tervo concluded.
Other public meets are scheduled for Wednesday, at M-TEC Located at Bay College in Escanaba and another at the International Bridge Administration, James McIntyre Conference Room in Sault Ste. Marie.
