Some motorists on Old US-12 in Chelsea failed to heed detour signs Thursday and were caught by surprise when they tried to travel east on the road.

The eastbound side of the road is expected to be closed for the next 15 days, while the first phase of a new sidewalk project begins.

Chelsea received a $225,000 Connecting Communities Grant from Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for a project to fill in gaps in the sidewalk along the south side of Old US-12 between M-52 and Freer Road.

Although traffic on the road can travel westbound, due to the narrowness of the road, eastbound traffic on Old US-12 is being detoured to I-94.

The construction work consists of the addition of concrete sidewalks, an asphalt non-motorized path, an elevated boardwalk and a pedestrian mid-block crosswalk at Silver Maples Drive. This first phase of the project is scheduled to continue until June 29.

Workers will add an asphalt road shoulder, clear vegetation and add support structures for the elevated boardwalk will be installed, according to information from the city.

Westbound traffic on Old US 12 between M-52 and Freer Road will be maintained, and local residents are encouraged to use side streets to avoid the detour.

The second phase is expected to begin June 30 and be completed on July 27, during which two-way traffic will return with no detours. The contractor is expected to complete the improvements along the south side of Old-US 12 and install the pedestrian crosswalk at Silver Maples Drive during that phase.

The detour is expected to last about 15 days, weather permitting, according to information from the city.

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