Greenwood, MLK, Franklin Construction Updates

Greenwood Avenue construction project.  JTV photo.

(June 29, 2020 10:37 AM) The City of Jackson Department of Engineering reports construction is nearing completion on Greenwood Avenue and the traffic circle surrounding Austin Blair Park.  The department anticipates the street will be opened to traffic later this week.

Last week, the top course of asphalt was paved on the street legs into and out of the traffic circle around Austin Blair Park. Friday, a crew was on-site adjusting the top of manholes and valves in the asphalt sections up to match the top of the new pavement.

Early this week, a subcontractor is scheduled to arrive to seal the joints in the concrete pavement in the traffic circle. Another subcontractor is scheduled to arrive to put down lane stripes, stop bars and arrows on the new pavement. Once these two tasks are complete, the streets will be opened to traffic. This is scheduled to happen before the end of the week.

Martin Luther King Jr Drive between Morrell Street and Mason Street

In the past week, the last of the pavement removals in the Phase 1 construction zone were completed and the electrical subcontractor worked to install new conduits and bases for the low level decorative lights that will be installed throughout the project area. The excavation contractor also took delivery of the pipes and valves and other materials that are to be installed.

Today, the excavation contractor will begin the process of trenching the new water main pipe into place on Morrell between Orchard Place and Cooley Place and on Martin Luther King Jr Drive between Morrell and Biddle. This work is scheduled to take a couple of weeks to complete.

Franklin Street

The primary accomplishment of the past week was the completion of water main pipe installation between Brown and Wisner. This new section of pipe is being pressure tested to ensure that it is free of leaks. If testing is successful, the pipe will undergo a weeklong process of disinfection, sampling and testing to ensure that it is free of bacteria before being put into service.

While the water main is being tested this week, the contractor will work on sewer and stormwater catch basin items between Brown and Wisner. This will take at least the whole week to complete.

In the week after the Fourth of July, assuming successful test results are achieved, the contractor will begin work to connect the new water main to the city-wide distribution system at each intersection and to connect houses to the new water main pipe.

Alley east of Mechanic Street between Cortland and Michigan 

In the past week, the contractor working for Consumers Energy completed their work to install new manholes and duct banks within the subject alley. A separate contractor who will work for AT&T to install manholes and ducts for AT&T is not scheduled to start their work until after the Independence Day holiday. Unfortunately, this means that there will be no work next week to move the project closer to completion.

As there will be an extended lull in progress, the City’s contractor was on-site Friday to grade the alley and place materials to provide positive drainage to the storm sewer.

There will be no work on Friday in observance of the Independence Day holiday.