Progress on several street construction projects has been made in the past week, while City of Jackson officials announce the Kibby Road reconstruction project is being pushed back to Fall 2017-Spring 2018.
Concrete pouring on the PAKA Trail along Fourth Street is scheduled for completion next week.
Here is an update on the several projects underway in the City of Jackson:
Jackson, Mechanic and Francis Streets between Washington and Glick
This project was also substantially completed and opened to traffic in the fall of 2016. Work on improved turf establishment by applying new topsoil, seed and mulch was completed last week. The planting of trees is scheduled for the coming weeks.
Trees for both Mechanic Street and Jackson Street projects have been delivered and will be planted next week.
E Michigan Avenue between Cooper and Dwight (MDOT)
This Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) administered project consists of
1) upgrading sidewalk ramps at each intersection within the construction zone to comply with current Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards,
2) removing the street surface with a mill, and
3) repaving the pavement surface with new hot mix asphalt.
Work to replace and upgrade ramps and sidewalks on both the north and south sides of the street is now complete. Repaving the street is also complete and crews will work in the coming days to stripe the street with pavement markings.
W Michigan Avenue between Brown and Steward (MDOT)
Work on this MDOT administered project to replace water mains, sewers, sidewalks and reconstruct the road with new curb and gutters and concrete pavement continues apace.
Installing the new water main along the street is set to be complete soon, with testing of portions of the main ongoing and in different states of completion. Mains between Brown and West passed the test recently to allow for the safe flow of water to homes and businesses, while the main between First and West still needs testing.
Other crews are working to install service hookups to the water mains that have passed testing as well as the city-wide distribution system. Sanitary sewer work will likely begin next week.
Electrical crews worked to install the bases for traffic signal arms at the intersection of West Avenue and Michigan Avenue, and will work at the Wisner Street intersection next week.
Crews are also working to install new bases for the mast arms that will hold the new traffic signals set to be installed along the downtown business loop including Washington Ave. and Louis Glick Highway.
Kibby Road between West Avenue and City Limits
This project consists of
1) removal and replacement of the pavement on the south side of the Kibby Road boulevard with new gravel base and hot mix asphalt,
2) removal of the curb and pavement on the north side,
3) construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Kibby and Denton and
4) construction of a new non-motorized mixed-use trail with a concrete surface in the location of the former north side of the Kibby Road boulevard.
Plans and specifications have been finalized. The project has not yet been advertised for bids as the funding for the project has been temporarily delayed due to the federal budgeting process.
As a result, the tentative start date of August has been delayed until this fall, with the work on the paving and non-motorized trail set for this fall and the roundabout construction scheduled for the spring of 2018.
PAKA Trail between Sharp Park School and New Leaf Park
This project will construct a new non-motorized mixed-use trail with a concrete surface between New Leaf Park located at the intersection of Fourth Street and the City’s MLK Equality Trail and Park Road at Sharp Park School.
Crews are working to placing concrete along the trail and grading of the soil is occurring in and around Ella Sharp Park.
Two fire hydrants will have to be relocated as part of this project along Fourth Street between New Leaf Park and Parkside Middle School. The relocation is scheduled for June 10, and will last a day, during which water pressure and access may be affected in that area.
City engineers scheduled this relocation for this past Saturday due to a doctor’s office and school that will need water during operating hours, and as to not disrupt the Art, Beer and Wine Festival at Ella Sharp Museum last weekend.
After the hydrants have been relocated, work to pave the trail along Fourth Street will begin and is set for completion next week.
