Grove Road rebuild to begin Tuesday afternoon
A rebuild of a crumbling section of Grove Road is set to begin.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Grove Road in the city of Ypsilanti will be reduced to one lane Tuesday as the road's long-awaited reconstruction project begins.
The road will be closed to southbound traffic, but one lane will remain open for northbound traffic throughout construction, which is expected to last until Sept. 15.
Stan Kirton, director of city’s department of public works, said the official detour takes southbound traffic east on Michigan Avenue, then south on Ecorse Road. From Ecorse, motorists are directed to head south on Harris Road, which dead ends into Grove.
Springport, Mich.-based Mead Brothers Excavating was awarded the $609,000 rebuild. The city is responsible for around $150,000 and the federal government will pay for $460,000.
The deteriorating stretch of road between the Interstate 94 overpass and the city limit at the intersection of Grove and Emmerick Street will be rebuilt. The road will be reduced to two lanes and two bike lanes will be continued from the township. Sidewalks will be added on the east side of the road and Kirton said there will be some stormwater drainage improvements.
The rebuild is the city’s only major summer road project, but it’s an important one both in terms of how deteriorated Grove is and due to the issues it caused with Ypsilanti Township.
Although the road is in the city, only Ypsilanti Township residents live in the immediate area and surrounding neighborhoods, and they were most impacted by the potholes.
“It’s a much-needed project,” Kirton said. “This is one of our worst roads and I’m sure Ypsilanti Township residents will be happy. It’s just a rough piece of road.”
The border between the township and the city runs down Emerick Road, which dead-ends at a southwest angle into Grove. The area south and east of Emerick and Grove is the township. A small slice of land that includes the road north and west of Emerick belongs to the city.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission repaved the road on the township’s side several years ago. During that project, it slimmed the township’s section of the road from four lanes to two while adding bike lanes. Kirton previously said that has caused extra stress on the city’s side.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
TruEMU_fan
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
This is great news!
IVote
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.
When Is Ypsilanti going to fix Prospect Rd from Cross to Holmes? It's so bad drivers who know it tend to circular around through neighborhood streets. I'm sure the residents don't like it, but I'll admit I do it too, even though I feel bad about it.
Brian Robb
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
City Council put the design engineering costs in the FYE 2014 budget. Once designs are complete, this will be the first project the City does once funding is available -- most likely 2015 or 2016.
TruEMU_fan
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
I would say Prospect from where it starts after the 94 overpass all the way to Clark. I cringe everyday, between Grove and Prospect, I can only imagine the damage I am doing to my car.
djacks24
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 6:30 p.m.
Great news! I thought the last thing I read about this was that nothing much was going to be done until after 2014? Now, if they could only add an I-94 on ramp and exit ramp there...
jns131
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.
There was a finality of the on and off ramp to 94. It stays closed. They need to tear down this failing strip mall and build homes or a park to go with the one across the street. Now, about Prospect Road. That is a disaster in the making.
Tom Perkins
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
There used to be on ramps/exits there but they were closed because they were too dangerous. That was the beginning of the end for the struggling Gault Village shopping plaza.
Tamara Craft Larson
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
It's about time!! WOOHOOO!!
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
Can anyone explain how the slimming of the road in the twp creates more stress on the city's portion of the road?
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
git r done
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 3:59 p.m.
If you thought traffic was a problem before, wait until Jimmy Hoffa turns up.
djacks24
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
If Hoffa was there, he would of turned up with all the potholes this road has had.
Ignatz
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
Huzzah! Huzzah! I was wondering when this would get going.
jns131
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 8:48 p.m.
Why do I feel like I am at the Renaissance Festival?