By Diane Brown
Facilities and Operations
Traveling by road in and around Ann Arbor will be a test of patience this summer as numerous road construction projects take place. Preparation work for the projects will begin this month, with road closures slated to begin May 1.
The two largest projects will affect many U-M commuters and guests.
On the north side of town, M-14 from I-94 east to Main Street will be completely closed beginning May 1 for resurfacing, adding another lane and reconstructing 12 bridges. The road is to be re-opened in mid-July, with additional work continuing until September. M-14 from Main Street to US-23 North, including the downtown Main Street exit, also will undergo construction, though one-lane traffic will be maintained.
On the west side of town, I-94 will be widened to three lanes and resurfaced between M-14 and Mill Creek Road, with most lane closures occurring at night. The Baker and Zeeb ramps also will be improved.
Within Ann Arbor, several street projects will occur. Those closest to campus include:
Additionally, 6.4 miles of Ann Arbor streets will be resurfaced May–October. These projects affect 46 street segments, all of which are side streets. Four resurfacing projects will affect campus areas: Church Street from Geddes to South University, East University from South University to Hill, North University from Thayer to Fletcher, and South University from East University to Church.
On campus property, five streets will be re-paved: Draper, Gilbert Court and Fire Station Service Drive on North Campus, along with Medical Science Circle Drive and East Medical Center Drive/East Hospital Drive to West Medical Center Drive on the Medical Campus.
Six U-M parking lots will be paved or re-paved: Glazier Way, Space Research, School of Music, G.G. Brown, Wall Street/Maiden Lane and School of Public Health South.
All together, the various road construction projects in and around Ann Arbor total more than $50 million. The majority of work is scheduled to be completed by the art fairs in July, though finishing work will continue through September.
Planning ahead for alternative routes will help alleviate some frustration. The Michigan Department of Transportation has established a 24-hour hotline for updates on the M-14 and I-94 projects—(734) 994-2917. Additional information also is available on the Web at www.mdot.state.mi.us.
Major area road construction sites
#1 I-94 – Mill Creek to M-14
#2 M-14 – I-94 to Main Street
#3 Zeeb Road – Jackson Road to Park Road
#4 Broadway Bridges
#5a Nixon Road – M-14 bridge to Pontiac Trail
#5b Nixon Road – Haverhill Court to M-14
#6 Geddes Road – US-23 to Dixboro Road
Reprinted by permission of the Michigan Department of Transportation
