US-127 exit MDOT construction to finish before winter
The construction project at the northbound and southbound Mount Pleasant exits of US-127 should be completed before winter.
“This (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) construction plan is a resurfacing project that is currently on schedule and should be completed by the end of November,” said Anita Richardson, the Bay Region spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Workers are operating Monday through Sunday, so motorists can still expect delays on the weekends, she said.
Terry Palmer, MDOT Mount Pleasant transportation service center manager, said the project is actually a little behind schedule.
“Even though we’re running behind, we’re shooting for the project to be done by the end of November or before winter starts,” Palmer said. “It’s a weather-dependent project, so it’s hard to determine how much work we’ll get done in the next month or so under the given circumstances.”
The construction is taking place on Blanchard Road going into Mount Pleasant. The project budget started at $9.3 million and has not exceeded that amount so far, Palmer said.
Workers are finishing up asphalt-paving for the rest of the roadway, but there are still several unpaved areas left to be done, Palmer said.
The main reasoning behind the project is to bring modernity to these roads, Palmer said. The pavement was too old, so workers are adding long-term layers to it.
“The mission is primarily for safety improvement,” Palmer said.
The ARAA is funding the project, which started July 7 in Isabella County.
