Michigan Street construction on schedule

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Michigan Street’s reconstructive surgery is expected to be completed by the third week of August.

Director of Public Works Duane Ellis said the construction, which began about two weeks ago, is going according to plan.

The project, affecting a section of Michigan Street between Mission and Fancher Streets, includes the complete reconstruction of the street and the addition of bike lanes and bump-out parking. The total cost for the construction is projected at $400,000.

“The project is part of the city’s ‘walkability’ goals,” Ellis said. “The other goal is to reconstruct the street, which was in need of rebuilding.”

Ellis said the project will encourage pedestrian use of the road, as well as an expected increase in bike riding.

Existing pavement, curbs and gutters will be removed. A two-foot deep excavation will allow the street to be reconstructed with new sand, gravel and asphalt.

Street safety

Ellis said safety is a top goal for the project.

By adding bike lanes and bump-out parking, the street lanes themselves will become narrower.

“It’s going to be an improvement because we’re adding bike lanes, we’re making it greener looking because we’ll have more landscaping areas,” Ellis said. “We hope to slow traffic on the street because the street will be narrower, it will encourage bicycle riding.”

Allison Quast, manager of Motorless Motion, 121 S. Mission St., said she is excited to see an increase in ease of biking and walking around town and in the surrounding areas.

“The increase of awareness of ‘bikeability’ and ‘walkability’ in Mount Pleasant and Union Township will definitely benefit our business,” she said. “I don’t know how it couldn’t increase business. As the number of people biking increases, obviously the number of needs increase.”

Quast said she expects a significant increase in the number of bike lanes and trails in the next five to ten years.

Young families look for pedestrian-friendly communities, she said, and Mount Pleasant is transforming into such a community.

Project funding

The funding for the project came from stimulus money received by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The city of Mount Pleasant applied for stimulus funding and received $345,000.

As more funding becomes available, Ellis said, he would like to see the Michigan Street construction project expand further west to Washington Street.

However, if the project is extended, it will not occur for a few more years, he said.