Isabella Road construction in final stages

The more than four-month construction project from business route US-127 to Broomfield Road along Isabella Road is nearing completion.

“This is the last phase,” said Pat Gaffney, Isabella County Road Commission engineer.

The mile-and-a-half project was proposed to be completed before classes started in mid-August, but the contracted company, CL Trucking & Excavating, LLC, has had some delays.

“They’re behind,” Gaffney said. “They do have some legitimate reasons for the time extension.”

Gaffney said construction is in its final stages and was delayed by added construction and weather-related issues.

This extended construction has caused problems for students and the Isabella County Transportation Commission.

“We’re pretty used to working around it,” said Dennis Adams, ICTC director of marketing and public relations. “But that little chunk has been a problem on Isabella (Road).”

The project is expected to be done sometime this month, Gaffney said.

“They’re looking at the middle of this month (to finish), but don’t have an exact date,” he said. “Currently they are putting in curves right now and in the final stages.”

Students who live in Jamestown Apartments, 4075 S. Isabella Road, where much of the construction, has been said it somewhat of a nuisance.

“Yeah, it’s terrible,” said Grant Auburn senior Adam Colbath. “Because you can’t get to the other side (to Bluegrass Road). You have to go through other apartment complex roads or to Mission (Street).”

Gaffney said besides redoing the road, the company has widened parts to four lanes and added left-turn lanes to Isabella and Broomfield roads.

However, the construction is not too bad for some students. “It’s not really inconvenient. Really it’s just going up to Wal-Mart, but I usually just take Collegiate Way,” said Rich Vanderpool, Walt Lake sophomore.

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