From spring 2027 through autumn 2029, U.S. 2 and 41 and M-35 are going to undergo a massive overhaul. The project, which includes full pavement removal and replacement and far more, is expected to cost over $31 million. A slide show displayed by MDOT yesterday cited $37 million.

A necessary precursor to the road work is the relocation of utility infrastructure. To achieve that, “extensive relocation of steel and plastic gas lines will occur over multiple phases and multiple years,” according to DTE. Their work will begin this month: steel gas mains are to be relocated between June and Decmeber of 2026, while rerouting of plastic gas distribution lines will continue through 2027.

During DTE’s work, odorization and flaring operations will take place, meaning that residents and passersby will occasionally see huge plumes of flames shoot into the air. To make sure the public understands what’s happening, DTE’s Chris Hackbarth said the company will work closely with Escanaba Public Safety and other entities.

The scope of the highway project is large. MDOT’s jobs will incorporate not only pavement removal, but “excavation approximately three feet to accommodate new subbase layer, aggregate base layer and hot mixed asphalt layers.” New storm sewers and municipal utilities will be installed, traffic patterns will change, sidewalks will be put in, and the Canadian National railroad bridge just south of the Escanaba River will get a new look — including a retaining wall and wide walking path at the approach.

This image shows where a massive highway reconstruction project will occur over three years. (Courtesy of MDOT)

The first part of the highway to be upgraded will begin on an east-west portion of U.S. 2 — in other words, the west end of Ludington Street from where it meets North 30th Street and Willow Creek Road — as well as Lincoln Road from the Ludington intersection north to Ninth Ave. That work should be done in 2027 and 2028; in 2028 to ’29, work will continue from that point north to Danforth Road.

Detours will be employed during some construction work. The first phase will allow two-way traffic, albeit with reduced lanes, but during the second phase, traffic will be rerouted to use Danforth and Ninth Avenue.

“There’s going to be congestion, there’s going to be backups — this whole three year process is going to probably test people’s patience,” acknowledged MDOT Design Manager Dave Bradley, “but we’ll get through it, and it’ll be great when it’s done.”

Attending in the audience on Wednesday were business owners, members of the Public Safety Department, and other interested community members.

A handful voiced concerns.

Ron Marlow and others from DTE Energy discuss plans with business owners and community members on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

One person said that Ninth Avenue was not in a condition to handle additional traffic detoured from the highway, and asked if the State of Michigan could fix it.

“We did approach the city — that if they had opportunity to improve Ninth, now was the time, but unfortunately they don’t have the funds to upgrade,” an MDOT engineer responded. “It’s a city street.”

Escanaba City Council Member Tyler Dubord questioned MDOT’s plan to replace the traffic light at Fifth Avenue North near Walmart with one a block farther up at Sixth Avenue.

“While Walmart is busy, Walmart access is (also) on Sixth Avenue North,” said Design Engineer Trevor Sholten, mentioning that traffic intersection counts had been done with cameras. “This signal will service the whole area and not just the Walmart plaza as a private building, and so we’ve accounted for that.”

The entire multi-phase project is going to be challenging for everyone involved, from workers to residents to visitors, but much like the current chaos on Ludington Street, area businesses will continue to remain open and solutions found.

Steve Cadeau, MDOT construction engineer, introduces himself and discusses aspects of the major road project coming next year to Escanaba while his colleague Trevor Sholten sits nearby during a recent meeting in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

“This is going to be messy, it’s stressful, it’s going to be confusing at times, but the long-term benefits are going to be significant for the corridor (and) for Escanaba,” said Construction Engineer Steve Cadeau. “This will be a smoother roadway, it’s going to be walkable through the entire corridor, (and there will be) improved traffic flow.”

Shown is how safer pedestrian pathways will be added. (MDOT slide show)

Escanaba residents can expect to see DTE working to relocate utility mains this year. (Slide show by DTE)

Chris Hackbarth of DTE points to a map that includes the U.P. State Fairgrounds when discussing utility relocations. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)