M-24 will be gaining a new traffic signal this summer and a private developer is picking up the tab.
Right after the Fourth of July holiday construction work will begin on installation of a traffic signal which will allow vehicles to cross M-24 between the east and west sides of Market Street in the Waterstone subdivision.
The work, expected to finish in late August, will require removal of a section of M-24 median currently blocking direct access from one side to the other.
‘It was part of the master plan of Waterstone to allow better access from west to east and to make the overall development work together,? said Larry Lax, a partner in Real Estate Interest Group., the main developer of Waterstone. ‘Up until now, it’s been primarily the west side that has been Waterstone.?
Lax said the entire project will cost REI approximately $400,000. ‘It’s part of our agreement with the community,? he said, adding everything is being done per the Michigan Department of Transportation’s requirements.
Sidewalks will be constructed on the north and south sides of median at the new intersection so as to allow pedestrians access to sidewalks on the west and east portions of Market Street.
The construction project will also include ‘realigning? the existing M-24 medians and turnarounds. According to Lax, a new turnaround will be constructed along M-24, south of Ray Road, which will allow traffic to turn left directly into Meijer’s southernmost drive. The turnaround directly in front of the driveway for Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub will be eliminated and moved to the south to better accommodate large trucks turning left to head north on M-24. The turnaround just north of Kalloway’s and south of Market Street will also be eliminated.
Gary Lepak, owner of Kalloway’s, said losing both turnarounds will negatively impact his restaurant’s business, the futures of his 70 employees and the value of his property.
‘I can’t live with that,? he said.
If this plan is constructed as is, Lepak said his customers from the south will be forced to go north, past Market Street, make a ‘Michigan left,? and head south, again through Market Street to get to his restaurant. In essence, customers will be forced to encounter the same traffic light twice.
‘It may take you three to seven minutes to make this whole traffic loop depending the time of day, traffic flow, congestion and everything else,? said Lepak, who was particularly upset that the first he heard of all these plans was 4 p.m. Friday, June 16.
‘I can’t believe no one contacted me for a meeting on this,? he said. ‘I should have been contacted at least to give some input about what’s going to be happening on that whole end. Nobody told me nothing.?
‘All it does is help the Market Street development? at Kalloway’s expense, Lepak noted.
Lepak said he doesn’t mind if they move the turnaround directly in front of his driveway to the south, but he feels at least one turnaround should be located south of Market Street and north of his establishment.
‘There’s plenty of room there for a nice turnaround,? he said.
Lepak said he spoke with Dick Zanotti, an REI representative, last week and ‘he understands and he agrees.?
?(Zanotti) says there is room for them to put a turnaround south of Market Street that will help us,? according to Lepak.
Lepak is meeting with township Supervisor Bill Dunn on Friday to see what can be done ‘ASAP to correct or modify? the plans, ‘if at all possible still at this point.?
Dunn’s going to help Lepak contact MDOT and explain the situation.
‘I want them to definitely understand the negative impact this can have on the viability of my business and the property value,? Lepak said.