Ortonville-Concerns over the forthcoming South Street paving project were addressed at the Old Township Hall last Monday evening.
From 5-7 p.m. Leanne Panduren, the project manager from Rowe, Inc., answered questions from residents and business owners.
‘It’s a pretty straightforward project,? she said. ‘Take it out and put it back in.?
Panduren said the project should only take about a month and is set to begin in June after the school year ends. During construction, she expects the road will only be completely closed on two or three days? during milling when the old pavement is ground down three inches and later when the new concrete is put down.
Between those two events repairs will be made to cracks and joints and large areas of pavement will be removed and replaced.
Although the project is expected to only last about a month, the contractor will be given until Aug. 20 in case of complications. Panduren doesn’t anticipate there will be any problems.
Brian Yerkes, a homeowner on South Street for the last five years, was concerned about sidewalks being moved, particularly because he has a small front yard. He was relieved to hear that the sidewalks will not be widened much. In addition, a drainage problem he and a few other homes have had will be alleviated by the project.
‘Water doesn’t always reach the catch basins and sometimes goes down my driveway,? Yerkes said. ‘Basement flooding has been a problem in the past. But this (project) will really help. It will be worth it and no worse than when the bridge was missing for three months.?
Yerkes was referring to the Kearsley Creek bridge project, also on South Street.
Ed Thompson, owner of Thompson Hardware South Street, noted the bridge project affected his business, too and hopes the new project will not be an inconvenience or affect customers whom he said tend to avoid construction.
He was more optimistic after learning the street would be open evenings and weekends during construction and while there may be lane closures during the day, the traffic will not be detoured and there will be traffic control flaggers.
‘I don’t think this will be a problem,? Thompson said. ‘The most important thing is that the public recognizes that they can get through.?
Another meeting will be planned before construction begins.