Road improvements near new Costco Warehouse almost complete
Roy Townsend, managing director of the Washtenaw County Road Commission, said contractors were paving Airport Plaza on Thursday.
On Friday, milling work will take place on State Street and on Saturday the road will be paved.
“We’re getting near the end,” he said, adding that there’s more work to be done next week “but we should be wrapped up on June 22 or 23.”
The improvements are part of the new Costco Warehouse store and gas station that will open later this month.
Among the improvements that were expected to be made:
- Elimination of the direct left turns onto State Street from both Airport Boulevard and Research Park Drive.
- Modification of the existing traffic signal and constructing two-lane boulevard crossovers on both Airport Boulevard and Research Park Drive.
- Pedestrian crossings were added at all legs of the intersection.
- Airport Boulevard between Ellsworth Road and State Street was reconfigured as a three-lane road.
- A 10-foot-wide shared use pathway on the east/south side of Airport Boulevard along the Costco street frontages was added.
At the Airport Boulevard and Ellsworth Road intersection:
- A new traffic signal at the intersection with pedestrian push buttons.
- The existing auxiliary westbound right-turn lane and paved shoulder was extended on Ellsworth Road for motorists turning northbound at the Airport Boulevard intersection.
- The south approach of the Airport Boulevard intersection was restriped to include room for a left-turning car.
At the Lohr and Ellsworth roads intersection:
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*A northbound auxiliary right-turn lane was constructed on Lohr Road at the Ellsworth Road intersection for traffic turning eastbound.
- The existing Lohr Road left-turn lane was extended.
- At the I-94/State Street interchange, the existing signal at the exit ramp was widened and modified.
The joint road construction project included Pittsfield Township, the city of Ann Arbor and the Road Commission.
“This is another excellent example of a private and public partnership,” Townsend said. The project was paid for by Costco.
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com, who also covers the Washtenaw County Road Commission. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com.
Comments
Ann English
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.
I noticed this morning that the exit ramp to State Street from eastbound I-94 was completely open, but had no idea that it was widened for Costco traffic coming from the west; I thought it was just getting resurfaced.
Basic Bob
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 10:12 p.m.
Hopefully this is better than the two-lane right turn out of Briarwood onto State. If you try to turn right from the second lane, you will get sideswiped by cars that don't understand the lane marking sign that says "I-94 West ONLY".
johnnya2
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
" The project was paid for by Costco." THIS is the reason I love Costco. when the Detroit Tigers and Lions needed a new stadium, taxpayers had to give corporate welfare to make it happen AND pay for the infrastructure surrounding it. Costco comes in, pays the bill for what they are going to need to make the experience for their customers better.
Townie
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
Speaking to Pittsfield Township officials I got the impression that Costco was paying $500k toward road improvements, not everything. I'm not sure the rotary will be on Costco's dime (needed anyway).
SalineGuy
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
Lohr is used by many more people than the nearby residents. It often gets backed up in the morning as many Saline residents use it to get to Ellsworth. It's about 3/4 mile shorter than using Maple as Maple does a jog to the West after Textile.
Basic Bob
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 6:38 p.m.
More likely, they paid what was required by the township as part of a rezoning agreement. Walmart did the same on Michigan, State, and Old State. There were also tax abatements thrown in to offset the initial cost. Why would the southern leg of the intersection at Lohr be improved? That helps only 2 or 3 neighborhoods.
Quilter
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
Will there be a gas station at this Costco?
William
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
Per the article above: "The improvements are part of the new Costco Warehouse store and gas station that will open later this month."
Sparty
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
Yes
ez12c
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
Maybe it's a give and take since Menards was turned down in Pittsfield Twp but Scio Twp got it. Either way I will be glad to see some of the road construction wrapped up.
Mick52
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
I really wanted the Costcoc in Scio, but if it were one or the other, I would take Menard's so it works out for all of us. Win, win. Costco is still closer to me than the next closest.
hermhawk
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
I'm glad Costco is in Pittsfield Township and not Scio Township; the approved location is closer to my home.
huh7891
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Hope so...we already have Lowes.
motorcycleminer
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:07 a.m.
Good news ..Pittsfields gain Scio's loss ..lets see if they blow the Menard deal...
DeeDee
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 10:35 a.m.
Wasn't there supposed to be a roundabout installed at State/Ellsworth intersection as well?
Scott
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:06 p.m.
Actually, I worry about a future roundabout project at this intersection... it would have been a lot easier to dig-up the roads there BEFORE all of the added traffic Costco will generate comes. If they do pursue the roundabout after Costco opens, the traffic jam won't be pleasant.
MRunner73
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
The roundabout project info is a missing piece, but I would have thought it would have been come at the same time as all of this other road construction.Then again, it is better to spread these things out. The Ann Arbor area is already covered in orange barrels.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.
I believe it is coming next year, although I am not sure why it was not completed with the rest of the project.