West Avenue between Michigan Avenue and Wildwood Avenue re-opened to motorists following a summer-long rebuild project by MDOT. The project involving two sections of West Avenue included storm sewer upgrades, water main replacements and upgrades, sanitary sewer improvements and sidewalk replacement. Grass seeding of disturbed areas will begin this week.
Also opening just before the holiday weekend were all four lanes of Lansing Avenue over I-94. That project, begun last year, rebuilt sections of the overpass damaged in an accident.
The Robinson Road construction is nearing completion, with asphalt scheduled to be laid this coming week. The scope of the project, between Michigan Avenue and McCain includes complete reconstruction of the road with new drainage, concrete curb and gutter, pavement and pavement markings.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is making railroad track improvements between Battle Creek and Jackson, including replacing 26,000 railroad ties, repairing 13 switches, and installing two new switches. Railroad switches allow trains to move from one set of tracks to another. MDOT also is repairing 23 railroad grade crossings and realigning or modifying 29 railroad curves. Additionally, MDOT is improving road profiles at crossings in the project area to better allow “lowboy” trailers to pass through.
Several of these crossings in Jackson County will close temporarily and include Wildwood Avenue (currently closed), Wisner Street, Woodville Road, Hendershot Road and Dearing Road.
This work is part of a larger improvement project for the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac “Michigan Line” as MDOT prepares to increase train speeds and train schedule reliability.
Last weekend, the top layer of asphalt was paved on both Edward and Winthrop. During the past week, two additional trees were removed. The next tasks are to grind out the stumps from those trees and grade and topsoil the adjacent greenbelts between the sidewalk and the curb. Early next week, the disturbed grass areas will be seeded and hydromulched. At that point, all work will be complete until it is time to plant new trees. Trees will be planted in October after the season changes and the nursery stock has gone dormant.
Francis Street between Washington and Glick
In the past week, sections of sidewalk have been replaced with new concrete and a new stormwater catch basin was installed at the corner with Cortland. Next week, the concrete subcontractor will return to the site to finish the last of the concrete items on Francis Street.
Glick Highway between Blackstone and Jackson
The project to install a liner in the 1907 clay sewer on Glick Highway is scheduled to commence on Monday, September 12, 2016. The work is scheduled to be completed in two days and will require a lane reduction on Glick Highway. No excavations are required to install the sewer liner. Manholes will provide access to the sewer pipes that will be lined.
Jackson Street between Washington and Glick
Currently, the contractor is working to install sewer services to the vacant lot on the west side of Jackson Street between Pearl and Washington. By the end of the week, this task along with the installation of storm water catch basins will be complete. Next week, the concrete subcontractor will return to the site to finish the last of the concrete items on the west side of Jackson Street. The week immediately thereafter, traffic will be shifted and work will start to remove and replace curb, sidewalk and ramp sections on the east side of Jackson Street.
Mechanic Street between Morrell Street and Washington Avenue
In the past week, the contractor continued the work of connecting new water main pipes to the city-wide distribution system at intersections and connecting buildings within the work zone to the new water main. The last of this work will be completed in the first half of next week. Immediately thereafter, the contractor will begin work to replace the antiquated brick sewer between Morrell and Mason with new PVC pipe. Work to replace the sanitary sewer will take several weeks to complete.
Michigan Avenue between Blackstone Street and Francis Street
The installation of conduits for electrical receptacles at the base of each tree has been completed and no more excavating will be required. Wire has been pulled through the conduits on the south side of Michigan Avenue. By the end of this week, all wire on the north side of the street will have been pulled into place. Next week, the electrical receptacles will be installed in each of the standposts at the bases of the trees. The week thereafter, the receptacles will be energized and the installation of the tree receptacles complete. Shortly thereafter, the decorative plantings between Mechanic and Jackson Street will be planted.
S. Pleasant Street Sewer Lining between TenEyck and Michigan Avenue
Early next week, a contractor working for the City of Jackson will install a liner in the brick sewer on S. Pleasant Street that was originally installed in 1907. No excavations will be required to perform this work. However, this work will require a temporary lane reduction and traffic shift on Michigan Avenue and is scheduled to take two days to complete.