MANISTIQUE - Though it does not officially break ground until this spring, plans for utility and infrastructure improvements in Manistique are moving along, according to the engineering group overseeing the project.
Engineers from Iron Mountain's Coleman Engineering Company said the $8.3 million project is made possible through a combination of grants and loans awarded to the city from the USDA Rural Development Program, staffed locally in Gladstone, and the Michigan Department of Transportation. A portion of the money was made available to the city through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Construction will be split into two separate infrastructure projects - on the east and west sides of town.
Streets on the west side of the project include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Deer and West Elk streets.
"The west side includes sanitary sewer and water main replacement, including the services to adjacent properties, and part of that project includes storm sewer," explained Coleman Engineering Project Engineer Donna Lynts.
There will also be replacement of the existing road surface on these streets.
In addition, MDOT has an added component on the west side of the city that affects Deer Street (M-94) from 5th Street to Chippewa Avenue. The MDOT project will cover road replacement, storm sewer upgrades and new sidewalks, including a couple of pedestrian rest areas.
"The DOT is responsible for the road replacement, storm sewer upgrades and sidewalk improvements on M-94," explained Lynts. "Then Rural Development is responsible for the utility replacement, which includes the sanitary and water system upgrades for M-94."
Coleman Engineering Project Manager Kevin Trevillian said the entire project will begin in spring, possibly around May 1. However, he noted construction on M-94 would not begin until after July 9. A detour would then be set up utilizing Chippewa Avenue, West Elk Street, and South 5th Street, due to M-94 construction.
"When they start construction in the spring, they're going to start building Elk," said Lynts. "Then Elk Street will be completely finished, and that's when they'll close M-94 to start construction on M-94."
This is when M-94 traffic will be detoured while work is done on the highway.
The entire project is expected to be completed in the fall, with M-94 reopening by Nov. 2.
The east portion of the project affects the city streets of Garden, Michigan, and Manistique avenues.
Improvements to the east side will include water main and sanitary sewer replacement. It also includes construction of a new storm sewer system and replacement of roads and curb and gutter in some areas, as well as the service laterals to adjacent properties, said Lynts. This project is also slated for completion in the fall.
Park Avenue was originally included in the east side plan, but needed to be temporarily removed due to funding limitations. Lynts said the hope is to reincorporate it into the project if there are enough funds left over after construction.
The city was awarded a grant and loan award from Rural Development specifically for water and sewer system improvements throughout the city, according to Trevillian.
The water improvement portion is linked to a $3 million loan and $1 million grant from Rural Development, while the sewer portion is connected to a $4.6 million loan and $1.5 million grant. However, $2 million of this amount will help to refinance a 1999 sewer bond that will save the city money and "be a great benefit to the city," he said.
Construction for the entire Rural Development portion of the project costs approximately $7.1 million, with the MDOT portion costing $1.2 million, for a total of $8.3 million.
Manistique City Council recently approved bids by two contractors for each infrastructure project. Elmer's Crane and Dozer, Inc., of Traverse City, will work on the east side, and Hebert Construction Company, of Iron River, on the west.
Lynts said a public hearing was held during a city council meeting to discuss the improvements and address any concerns.
"We did have a public information session during a city council meeting, just to get the project out there and let people know what streets would be impacted..." she said. "So at that public information meeting, we tried to let everyone know that we'd try to keep everything running as smooth as possible and keep the disruptions minimal and build the streets as quick as possible."
In general, no work will be done between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m, or on Sundays and holidays, according to Lynts. She said each contractor has the responsibility to maintain access for residents and emergency vehicles during construction, and noted that although they anticipate some disruptions when a contractor is working immediately in front of someone's property, these disruptions should be minimal.
"The contractor will also be responsible for maintaining water and sanitary sewer service to residential and commercial customers during construction," noted Lynts. They will notify property owners when the connection to the new water main will occur and it is anticipated there will be a short disruption to water service at the time that connection is made.
"As with any construction project there will be minor disruptions to one's daily activities," said Lynts. "However, these disruptions will be worth the end product of a quality infrastructure for the residents of Manistique."
For more information on the project, contact Coleman Engineering, at 774-3440, or the city of Manistique at 341-2290.