2023 & Prior Street Updates (Archives)

Category: City Streets Updates

September 2023 Street Update

Published: Thursday, 21 September 2023 09:51 | Print
Miller Road rehabilitation continues. The project includes repair of select drainage structures, joint repair, and a significant amount of curb replacement. Resurfacing will occur at the end of the project. There will be limited sidewalk replacement and driveway approach replacement. This work is limited to areas that must meet ADA needs. There will not be any changes to the lane configuration or any addition of onstreet parking. Temporay lane changes will continue so that the contractor can work on two lanes at a time, while leaving two lanes open to traffic for most repairs. For those that inquired about timing, the city did pursue completion prior to school commencing. With construction season spanning April to November, communities must pay a hefty and literal financial premium to schedule their project between mid-June and mid-August. This is the equivilient to spring break airfare and would consume resources slated for other road projects. We appreciate your patience with the added inconvienence.
 
Prevenetative maintenance crack fill application is complete. City-wide pavement markings/striping will follow.
 
The city still awaits final approval of water main designs for the Phase II of the USDA water main replacment project. This has been under USDA ane EGLE review for many months. The water main engineering approval is directly tied to the reconstruction of Durwood, Norbury, Greenleaf, Whitney, and Winshall. Once this approval is granted by EGLE, we expect to bid. Due to the experienced delay, it is not likely that any significant reconstruction will commence in 2023. Winchester Woods resurfacing will also be bid at this time.
 
See previous reports for project details and past progress.

August 2023 Street Update

Published: Thursday, 10 August 2023 13:36 | Print
Miller Road resurfacing is underway. This will also include repair of select drainage structures, joint repair, and a significant amount of curb replacement. There are also likely to be instances of sidewalk replacement and driveway approach replacement, though this will be very limited to areas that must meet ADA needs. There will not be any changes to the lane configuration or any addition of onstreet parking. Temporay lane changes will occur so that the contractor can work on two lanes at a time, while leaving two lanes open to traffic for most repairs.
 
Prevenetative maintenance crack fill application is expected for most city streets near the end of August. This should not result in any significant delays or disruptions. Road striping will follow.
 
The city still awaits final approval of water main designs for the Phase II of the USDA water main replacment project. This is directly tied to the reconstruction of Durwood, Norbury, Greenleaf, Whitney, and Winshall. Once this approval is granted by EGLE, we expect to bid. Due to the delay, it is not likely that any significant reconstruction will commence in 2023. Winchester Woods resurfacing will also be bid at this time.
 
See previous reports for project details and past progress.

May 2023 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 24 May 2023 14:49 | Print
Bids will be opened on June 1 for Miller Road (Morrish to Seymour), with approval of a contractor expected on June 12. The DDA has recommended approval of onstreet parking on Miller from Hayes to Morrish Road per a traffic study by OHM. This is expected to reduce speeds and noise, as well as to increase pedestrian safety. See the January 2023 update for details on the Miller Road rehabilitatoin project.
 
Bids are expected to go out in late May or early June for the following:
 
Norbury (Road reconstruction and water main replacement)
Durwood (Road reconstruction and water main replacement)
Greenleaf (Road reconstruction and water main replacement)
Whitney (Road reconstruction and water main replacement)
Winshall (Road reconstruction and water main replacement)
 
Seymour (limited water main replacement)
 
Note that Don Shenk is not included because the water main for this street is relatively new. Street reconstruction will follow this phase, which is largely related to required water main replacement. Project bidding has been delayed by reviews for USDA loan compliant water main. It is expected that this project will take approximately two construction seasons to complete. Given the current bidding and award timeline, along with availabity of water main pipe, the outlook for a productive 2023 construction season is questionable.
 
Rehabiltiatoin of streets in Winchester Woods will also be priced. This project, depending on pricing and the timeline for watermain work, may commence in 2023 or 2024.
 
See the January 2023 Update for more details.

January 2023 Street Update

Published: Monday, 23 January 2023 11:14 | Print

The Morrish Road project is fully open to traffic and substantially complete. This project should be behind us very shortly. The city inspected the project with the engineer to see if it is ready to close out. Staff has concerns about some apparent reflective cracking. While cracking over joints is not uncommon for rehabilitation projects, there is a substantial amount that may be cause for concern. This is most notable around Fortino and the storage units on Morrish.

We have an agreement with the MDOT for the Miller Road buyout, which might make funds available for 2023. With that said, we are looking to bid in the late winter and need to finalize preliminary engineering. OHM is working on final engineering, and we hope to bid soon.

The federal award for this project has been increased from $1,054,959 to $1,249,499. At 90%, our share is up to $1,124,549 from $949,463. This money will be much less restricted road money, which should enable us to complete the necessary resurfacing, joint work, curb, and drainage, without needing to focus on other MDOT requirements. Note that cost increases and the continuing need to pay Davis Bacon wages (prevailing wages) may still dig into local reserves.

If bids are low, funds can be spent to expand the project scope as we see fit. There is no shortage of deferred maintenance on other major streets (south Morrish, concrete portions of Miller, and even parts of east Miller and Elms). Another options is some striping or lane change configurations downtown, should the city wish to explore on-street parking on Miller from Morrish to Hayes.

With that said, OHM has modeled an option for this segment with on street parking. Doing so will certainly have the mixed impact of slowing traffic, as well as the obvious increase to parking spaces, an increased buffer for sidewalk uses. The study was in the November 14, 2022 council packet. We will need to decide if we wish to pursue this prior to having the roadwork commence.

The DDA discussed this matter at their meeting on November and December meetings.  There was support and opposition, with no recommendation.

All other street work for 2022 is substantially complete. Road paint has been completed on Bristol, Seymour, and Hill. However, there are still some missing stop bars and specialty markings (approved at the September 12 meeting). Note that Seymour now has a double yellow line centered on the street, with edge lines included to provide for shoulders on both sides. The lane width is at 10.5’. This should result in traffic calming and provide a safer space for bikers.

OHM is preparing preliminary engineering for the remainder of Winchester Village and Winchester Woods. This is a very large scope of work. As observed with the recent streets in the Village, the water main that is in place is 70-year-old cast iron, with failing joints. As such, it is imperative to replace water main for those streets that have original pipe (note that this excludes Don Shenk, which has ~20 year old water main, with a corresponding top coat of asphalt).

In order to tackle such a large scope of water main, we intend to bond with the USDA for another phase. This means that the water main work must be completed in two construction seasons. The removal of the street and existing main further necessitates that the streets be completed in the same timeline. As such, a street bond is prudent.

We are currently finalizing the USDA borrowing process and should be ready to bid the water main and streets this winter. The USDA and street bond processes will be conducted concurrently, but they are separate and distinct. Note that delivery times for ductile iron are extensive, from 8 to 12 months. This could prevent any meaningful work form occuring in 2023.

Mid-July Street Update

Published: Monday, 18 July 2022 12:19 | Print
All street projects for 2022 are substantially complete. Seymour, Bristol, and Hill will be striped in the coming weeks. Note that Seyour will be striped with a center double-yellow and two edge lines so that there are shoulders on both sides (instead of the wide north land and narrow south lane). This change should improve traffic calming and give bikers a safer place to operate.
 
Miller Road funding has been approved. As such, we may be able to proceed with improvemetns in 2023 to rehabilitate the section between Morrish and North Seymour (Speedway). See the prior reports on the schedule for Winchester Village and other projects.

July Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 28 June 2022 10:49 | Print
Seymour (Miller to the railway), Bristol (Elms to the city limit), and Hill (Seymour to the city limit) are scheduled to be resurfaced this summer. Work has been ongoing to repair catch basins, add drain lines, and perform limited road base reconstruction prior to commencement of paving. The paving portion is expected to take less than a week to complete, and full closures are not expected. As of writing, the contractor cannot commit to a date due to the lack of availability of pavement milling machines. See prior reports for details on past & upcoming reconstruction projects in Winchester Village.

May 2022 Street Update

Published: Monday, 02 May 2022 11:45 | Print
Please see the April update below for general information about the 2022 construction season!
 
The contractor that is working on Morrish is moving along now. Milling is underway, and limited paving will be performed by mid-May. If things go well, they will be able to pave more than half of the southern section (miller to I69) and ALL of the northern section. This could open Morrish to two-way traffic by mid-May. This is not a guarantee, but it is the plan.
 
The same contractor is also going to be performing the work on Hill Road (Seymour to city limits), Seymour (Miller to city limits), and Bristol Road (Elms to city limits). These projects will be limited in their scope (ashpaht resurfacing only) and much quicker. Milling of Seymour may start the week of May 2nd. Traffic should be open in all directions with a flagging crew in place, but altnerate routes are advised. Bristol Road will require some base/drainage work. We plan to push this off until the Morrish Road detour is no longer required. No dates have been set for the Hill Road cap as of writing.

April 2022 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 06 April 2022 17:04 | Print

2022 is going to be very busy in Swartz Creek. Miller Road water main is finishing up now, but replacement curb work and restoration will continue into late spring. Morrish Road rehabilitation is underway. This is a resurfacing project from Bristol to Miller that was selected for funding by the Genesee County Traffic Improvement Program. Some folks have asked, "why this road." The answer lies in the old adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This street has surface deterioration, but a strong base. As such, the road received federal rehabilitation funds to address the surface prior to major defects. This road project will take about ten weeks, with the south bound lane closed for phase one and the north bound land closed for phase two. This is the best solution available given practical consideration, design requirements, and MDOT traffic control guidance. The project will also include a left turn lane on Paul Fortino, onto Morrish.

To address additional street deterioration, several local street projects will also be completed by this fall. These projects will be surface rehabilitation, but they will provide timely maintenance to protect road bases and improve the surface. The projects should also progress much faster. Areas approved for resurfacing include: Hill Road (Seymour to city limits), Seymour Road (Miller to city limits) and Bristol Road (Elms to city limits, including base repair at Jennie Lane). In addition, we expect to have surface restoration for the Library/Senior Center/Civic area parking lot. Notice will go out to those organizations to avoid service disruptions.

Miller Road, from Morrish to Seymour, has been selected for TIP federal funding. The year of construction has not been determined but is likely to be 2024.

Lastly, even bigger plans are in the works for 2023-2024. A USDA phase II investment will enable water main replacement for those streets in Winchester Village that are still on original cast iron mains. Concurrent with this, we will be reconstructing those streets in the same manner as the recent projects. Engineering is already underway, with bids to be solicited later this year to finish up this work. Doing so will bring us very close to substantial completion of the Winchester Village infrastructure investment. Note that we are already hearing of major delays (months, perhaps a year) on such supplies. We are not expecting delays for a 2023 commencement yet, but such supply issues may become a reality. We expect to be resurfacing much of Winchester Woods at this time as well.

October 2021 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 13 October 2021 10:20 | Print
As of writing, Oakview Drive has most of the concrete work complete and has the base coat of asphalt down. Chelmsford concrete work is ongoing, with paving expected yet this month. The final coat of asphalt will then be put in place. Forestry and restoration will commence this fall, with touch-up work to be completed in the spring. Consumers Energy has not given a date for street light installation.
 
Future projects have not been set, pending the results of a water main grant submission. If the USDA grant is favorable, it is expected that the rest of the village water main will be completed in the summers of 2023 and 2024. This will include accompanying road reconstruction. Areas included would be Greenleaf, Durwood, Norbury, Whitney, and Winshall. Cappy and Don Shenk will be last in the Village. Streets in Winchester Woods are also under preliminary engineering and would likely be completed as surface rehabilitation projects at the same time. This work would be bonded and completed ahead of schedule.
 
If the USDA grant is not favorable, the city will proceed with water main replacement and street reconstruction on one street, either Greenleaf or Winshall. Stay tuned!

June 2021 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 30 June 2021 11:31 | Print
Work has commenced on the 2021 street reconstruction projects. These include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Water main work is substantially complete on Oakview, with storm work to commence soon. Crews will then compolete watermain work and storm water work on Chelmsford, prior to street demolition.
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Street work will continue through the summer months and into the fall. The contractor will use door hangers to communicate planned water disruptions and driveway access limits. Note: not all water disruptions or access issues can be planned!
 
Restoration, including decorative signs/lights, may not be completed prior to winter weater onset.

July Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 28 June 2022 10:49 | Print
Seymour (Miller to the railway), Bristol (Elms to the city limit), and Hill (Seymour to the city limit) are scheduled to be resurfaced this summer. Work has been ongoing to repair catch basins, add drain lines, and perform limited road base reconstruction prior to commencement of paving. The paving portion is expected to take less than a week to complete, and full closures are not expected. As of writing, the contractor cannot commit to a date due to the lack of availability of pavement milling machines. See prior reports for details on past & upcoming reconstruction projects in Winchester Village.

May 2022 Street Update

Published: Monday, 02 May 2022 11:45 | Print
Please see the April update below for general information about the 2022 construction season!
 
The contractor that is working on Morrish is moving along now. Milling is underway, and limited paving will be performed by mid-May. If things go well, they will be able to pave more than half of the southern section (miller to I69) and ALL of the northern section. This could open Morrish to two-way traffic by mid-May. This is not a guarantee, but it is the plan.
 
The same contractor is also going to be performing the work on Hill Road (Seymour to city limits), Seymour (Miller to city limits), and Bristol Road (Elms to city limits). These projects will be limited in their scope (ashpaht resurfacing only) and much quicker. Milling of Seymour may start the week of May 2nd. Traffic should be open in all directions with a flagging crew in place, but altnerate routes are advised. Bristol Road will require some base/drainage work. We plan to push this off until the Morrish Road detour is no longer required. No dates have been set for the Hill Road cap as of writing.

April 2022 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 06 April 2022 17:04 | Print

2022 is going to be very busy in Swartz Creek. Miller Road water main is finishing up now, but replacement curb work and restoration will continue into late spring. Morrish Road rehabilitation is underway. This is a resurfacing project from Bristol to Miller that was selected for funding by the Genesee County Traffic Improvement Program. Some folks have asked, "why this road." The answer lies in the old adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This street has surface deterioration, but a strong base. As such, the road received federal rehabilitation funds to address the surface prior to major defects. This road project will take about ten weeks, with the south bound lane closed for phase one and the north bound land closed for phase two. This is the best solution available given practical consideration, design requirements, and MDOT traffic control guidance. The project will also include a left turn lane on Paul Fortino, onto Morrish.

To address additional street deterioration, several local street projects will also be completed by this fall. These projects will be surface rehabilitation, but they will provide timely maintenance to protect road bases and improve the surface. The projects should also progress much faster. Areas approved for resurfacing include: Hill Road (Seymour to city limits), Seymour Road (Miller to city limits) and Bristol Road (Elms to city limits, including base repair at Jennie Lane). In addition, we expect to have surface restoration for the Library/Senior Center/Civic area parking lot. Notice will go out to those organizations to avoid service disruptions.

Miller Road, from Morrish to Seymour, has been selected for TIP federal funding. The year of construction has not been determined but is likely to be 2024.

Lastly, even bigger plans are in the works for 2023-2024. A USDA phase II investment will enable water main replacement for those streets in Winchester Village that are still on original cast iron mains. Concurrent with this, we will be reconstructing those streets in the same manner as the recent projects. Engineering is already underway, with bids to be solicited later this year to finish up this work. Doing so will bring us very close to substantial completion of the Winchester Village infrastructure investment. Note that we are already hearing of major delays (months, perhaps a year) on such supplies. We are not expecting delays for a 2023 commencement yet, but such supply issues may become a reality. We expect to be resurfacing much of Winchester Woods at this time as well.

October 2021 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 13 October 2021 10:20 | Print
As of writing, Oakview Drive has most of the concrete work complete and has the base coat of asphalt down. Chelmsford concrete work is ongoing, with paving expected yet this month. The final coat of asphalt will then be put in place. Forestry and restoration will commence this fall, with touch-up work to be completed in the spring. Consumers Energy has not given a date for street light installation.
 
Future projects have not been set, pending the results of a water main grant submission. If the USDA grant is favorable, it is expected that the rest of the village water main will be completed in the summers of 2023 and 2024. This will include accompanying road reconstruction. Areas included would be Greenleaf, Durwood, Norbury, Whitney, and Winshall. Cappy and Don Shenk will be last in the Village. Streets in Winchester Woods are also under preliminary engineering and would likely be completed as surface rehabilitation projects at the same time. This work would be bonded and completed ahead of schedule.
 
If the USDA grant is not favorable, the city will proceed with water main replacement and street reconstruction on one street, either Greenleaf or Winshall. Stay tuned!

June 2021 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 30 June 2021 11:31 | Print
Work has commenced on the 2021 street reconstruction projects. These include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Water main work is substantially complete on Oakview, with storm work to commence soon. Crews will then compolete watermain work and storm water work on Chelmsford, prior to street demolition.
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Street work will continue through the summer months and into the fall. The contractor will use door hangers to communicate planned water disruptions and driveway access limits. Note: not all water disruptions or access issues can be planned!
 
Restoration, including decorative signs/lights, may not be completed prior to winter weater onset.

February Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 12:40 | Print
Projects for 2021 will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Tree work is likely to begin in February, with Consumers Energy gas line replacement shortly thereafter.
 
Depending on weather conditions, water main replacement will commence in early spring, along with drainage work. Street work will continue through the summer months adn into the fall. The contractor will use door hangers to communicate planned water disruptions and driveway access limits. Note: not all water disruptions or access issues can be planned!
 
Restoration, including decorative signs/lights, may not be completed prior to winter weater onset.

November Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 17 November 2020 10:04 | Print
The 2020 portions of Winston, Oakview, Chelmsford, and Oxford are substantially complete! Note that restoration may continue in the spring. Decorative lighting and signs are still in the works. If you have issues with tree or sign placement, please contact the city offices. Note that the parking on Oakview has been flipped from the east side to the west side to align opposite the water main and hydrants.
 
Projects for 2021 will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.

May Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 12 May 2020 13:10 | Print
Street construction is expected to begin in June. Due to the scale of the project, work will be split into two years. The first year is expected to include:
 
Chelmsord from Winston to Daval
Winston from Chesterfield to Chelmsford
Oakview from Chelmsford to Daval
Oxford Court
 
Year two will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Waste services and postal service will continue, but interuptions/delays are expected.
 
The rational behind the selection of projects is to construct from east to west. This will limit the amount of 2021 construction traffic that will require access over new streets.

April Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 01 April 2020 08:47 | Print
COVID 19 is really messing with things. 2020 projects have not been cancelled, but we are all familiar with the pattern of excalation and extension of COVID 19 protocols. As such, it is entirely possible that we will lose the entire construction season. We will be looking to get guidance from the State of Michgian on public projects soon. Stay tuned. See the updates below for details on 2020 projects and past work efffots.

March 2020 Street Update

Published: Monday, 02 March 2020 11:16 | Print
We are entering into another season of street renovations! Big projects are on the way, but this year is a bit different because the projects were bid with a USDA water main project. This means that more work than normal is on the agenda, but the project is to be spread over TWO SUMMERS. We will have a firm understanding of which project components will be scheduled for 2020 after the city's engineer and contractor are able to meet and affirm details. Here is a summary of the street projects that were bid:
 
Chelmsford
Winston (Chesterfield to Oakview)
Oakview (Winston to Seymour:
Oxford Court
 
All sections will include full street demolitions and replacement, with curbs, sidewalk, water main, street forestry, and some lighting components.
 
Note that this project is being split into sections to accommodate the scope of water main work also being conducted in other areas (Morrish Road, Bristol Road, and Miller Road). We must also navigate the school improvements at Syring. With that said, we suspect Winston, the east block of Chelmsford (with Oxford), and the east block of Oakview will be complete in 2020. This can and probably will change!
 
Glaeser Dawes was the sealed low-bid award winner. This is the company that has completed the last few projects in Winchester Village, excluding 2019 Fairchild Street work. They will NOT be staging in Abrams Park this year.
 

February Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 12:40 | Print
Projects for 2021 will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Tree work is likely to begin in February, with Consumers Energy gas line replacement shortly thereafter.
 
Depending on weather conditions, water main replacement will commence in early spring, along with drainage work. Street work will continue through the summer months adn into the fall. The contractor will use door hangers to communicate planned water disruptions and driveway access limits. Note: not all water disruptions or access issues can be planned!
 
Restoration, including decorative signs/lights, may not be completed prior to winter weater onset.
 

November Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 17 November 2020 10:04 | Print
The 2020 portions of Winston, Oakview, Chelmsford, and Oxford are substantially complete! Note that restoration may continue in the spring. Decorative lighting and signs are still in the works. If you have issues with tree or sign placement, please contact the city offices. Note that the parking on Oakview has been flipped from the east side to the west side to align opposite the water main and hydrants.
 
Projects for 2021 will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.

May Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 12 May 2020 13:10 | Print
Street construction is expected to begin in June. Due to the scale of the project, work will be split into two years. The first year is expected to include:
 
Chelmsord from Winston to Daval
Winston from Chesterfield to Chelmsford
Oakview from Chelmsford to Daval
Oxford Court
 
Year two will include:
 
Chelmsford from Daval to Seymour
Oakview from Daval to Seymour
 
Improvements will include new water main; removal and replacement of the street, sidewalks, curbs; forestery; limited drainage work; lighting improvements; decorative signs.
 
Waste services and postal service will continue, but interuptions/delays are expected.
 
The rational behind the selection of projects is to construct from east to west. This will limit the amount of 2021 construction traffic that will require access over new streets.
 
 
 
 

April Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 01 April 2020 08:47 | Print
COVID 19 is really messing with things. 2020 projects have not been cancelled, but we are all familiar with the pattern of excalation and extension of COVID 19 protocols. As such, it is entirely possible that we will lose the entire construction season. We will be looking to get guidance from the State of Michgian on public projects soon. Stay tuned. See the updates below for details on 2020 projects and past work efffots.

March 2020 Street Update

Published: Monday, 02 March 2020 11:16 | Print
We are entering into another season of street renovations! Big projects are on the way, but this year is a bit different because the projects were bid with a USDA water main project. This means that more work than normal is on the agenda, but the project is to be spread over TWO SUMMERS. We will have a firm understanding of which project components will be scheduled for 2020 after the city's engineer and contractor are able to meet and affirm details. Here is a summary of the street projects that were bid:
 
Chelmsford
Winston (Chesterfield to Oakview)
Oakview (Winston to Seymour:
Oxford Court
 
All sections will include full street demolitions and replacement, with curbs, sidewalk, water main, street forestry, and some lighting components.
 
Note that this project is being split into sections to accommodate the scope of water main work also being conducted in other areas (Morrish Road, Bristol Road, and Miller Road). We must also navigate the school improvements at Syring. With that said, we suspect Winston, the east block of Chelmsford (with Oxford), and the east block of Oakview will be complete in 2020. This can and probably will change!
 
Glaeser Dawes was the sealed low-bid award winner. This is the company that has completed the last few projects in Winchester Village, excluding 2019 Fairchild Street work. They will NOT be staging in Abrams Park this year.

June 2019 Street Update

Published: Monday, 24 June 2019 11:18 | Print
The schedule for our 2019 street projects has been updated. For a description of the full scope of work, see the March update below.

Fairchild Street rehabilitation is underway. This project will included replacing about 2" of asphalt. Some road base and curb repairs are also proposed. Additional pedestrian lighting is to be provided at the Cappy Lane intersection and at Ingalls. This project will be substantially complete prior to the first day of school.  Note that an intersection study for Cappy Lane and Fairchild is underway to ascertain what changes might be warranted to maintain safe vehicle and pedestrian use. This corridor will also be a primary focus for the Safe Routes to School Initiative that is due to occur this summer.

Helmsley Drive is also due to commence in mid-summer, with the understanding that the project will be substantially complete prior to the commencement of fall class at Syring.

The downtown streetscape is underway. Two-way traffic will be open during the project, but expect limited left turns and delays.

Surface maintenance on streets in the form of crack sealing may also be performed in the fall. A scope of work has not yet been developed.

Hill Road rehabilitation was submitted to the state for 'Category B' funding, but it was NOT approved.

May 2019 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2019 10:21 | Print
The schedule for our 2019 street projects has been updated. For a description of the full scope of work, see the March update below.

Fairchild Street is due to commence on or around June 10th, with the udnerstanding that the State of Michigan is expected to 'forgive' the additional snow day requirement that would otherwise require school to remain in session that week. Note that the city council is expected to approve an intersection study for Cappy Lane and Fairchild to ascertain what changes might be warrented to maintain safe vehicle and pedestrian use. This corridor will also be a primary focus for the Safe Routes to School Initiative that is due to occur this summer.

 
Helmsley Drive is also due to commence on or around mid-June, with the understanding that the project will be substantially complete prior to the commencement of fall class at Syring.

 
The downtown streetscape will commence after the Hometown Days festival.

 
Surface maintenance on streets in the form of crack sealing may also be performed in the fall. A scope of work has not yet been developed.

 
Hill Road rehabilitation was submitted to the state for 'Catagory B' funding. The status of this applicatoin is not known. Work will not commence without a grant award.

April Street Update

Published: Thursday, 26 April 2018 09:25 | Print
Reconstruction on Daval Drive is waaaay ahead of schedule, despite the April snow, ice, and low temperatures. Forestry, and water main work are now substantially complete, and crews are working on sidewalk installation.  By the end of the month, we may even see the beginning of curb and road demolition. Overall, the project could be done by mid-summer.
 
Driveway interruptions for curb, sidewalk, and drive approach will occur. Notice will usually be one or two days due to scheduling with weather.
 
Restoration for last year's projects is pending! This will include filling low spots, replacing damaged concrete (please report any if you have not already), and planting grass. This has been delayed due to the long lasting winter.
 
With the project so far ahead of budget, the city council will be holding a special meeting at 7pm on April 30th to consider additional 2018 road work. Options include surface rehabilitation on select streets near downtown, Helmsley street reconstruction, and/or some combination of projects and saving for future projects. The meeting will be in the council chambers at 8083 Civic Drive.
 
See prior reports (below) to view the FAQ, which covers forestry, contacts, and other common matters.

June 2019 Street Update

Published: Monday, 24 June 2019 11:18 | Print
The schedule for our 2019 street projects has been updated. For a description of the full scope of work, see the March update below.

Fairchild Street rehabilitation is underway. This project will included replacing about 2" of asphalt. Some road base and curb repairs are also proposed. Additional pedestrian lighting is to be provided at the Cappy Lane intersection and at Ingalls. This project will be substantially complete prior to the first day of school.  Note that an intersection study for Cappy Lane and Fairchild is underway to ascertain what changes might be warranted to maintain safe vehicle and pedestrian use. This corridor will also be a primary focus for the Safe Routes to School Initiative that is due to occur this summer.

Helmsley Drive is also due to commence in mid-summer, with the understanding that the project will be substantially complete prior to the commencement of fall class at Syring.

The downtown streetscape is underway. Two-way traffic will be open during the project, but expect limited left turns and delays.

Surface maintenance on streets in the form of crack sealing may also be performed in the fall. A scope of work has not yet been developed.

Hill Road rehabilitation was submitted to the state for 'Category B' funding, but it was NOT approved.

May 2019 Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2019 10:21 | Print
The schedule for our 2019 street projects has been updated. For a description of the full scope of work, see the March update below.

Fairchild Street is due to commence on or around June 10th, with the udnerstanding that the State of Michigan is expected to 'forgive' the additional snow day requirement that would otherwise require school to remain in session that week. Note that the city council is expected to approve an intersection study for Cappy Lane and Fairchild to ascertain what changes might be warrented to maintain safe vehicle and pedestrian use. This corridor will also be a primary focus for the Safe Routes to School Initiative that is due to occur this summer.

 
Helmsley Drive is also due to commence on or around mid-June, with the understanding that the project will be substantially complete prior to the commencement of fall class at Syring.

 
The downtown streetscape will commence after the Hometown Days festival.

 
Surface maintenance on streets in the form of crack sealing may also be performed in the fall. A scope of work has not yet been developed.

 
Hill Road rehabilitation was submitted to the state for 'Catagory B' funding. The status of this applicatoin is not known. Work will not commence without a grant award.
 

March 2019 Street Update

Published: Monday, 04 March 2019 10:45 | Print
There are three projects with accepted bids slated for 2019. They include Helmsley, Fairchild, and the downtown streetscape.
 
Helmsley Drive is going to be a full reconstruction of the street. Because the original watermain has been replaced, there will not be new watermain installed  As such, underground work will be very limited. However, the project will include full depth road replacement, new curb/gutter, and storm storm work. Sidewalks and approaches that were not replaced during the previous watermain work will be replaced at this point. Decorative signs and lighting to match previous projects is proposed, and forestry will be completed on a limited basis. This project is expected to start after school releases for the summer, and it should be substantially complete prior to Labor Day.This project is funding with local tax dollars. Traffic is expected to remain open with temporary limits to lane use and property access.  However, based upon the project scope, there will be notable hardships at certain times to access driveways. It is unclear of Consumers Energy proposed gas line replacement to coincide with this project.
 
Fairchild Street is a rehabilitation project. The surface of the street, from Miller Road to Cappy Lane will be milled and resurfaced. Additional lighting is proposed. Curb and gutter work will be limited to spot repair only, and no additional work is proposed for sidewalks, approaches, forestry, or underground utilities. However, Consumers Energy MAY be in the area prior to project commencement to replace gas leads. This project is expected to commence after school releases for the summer and be substantially complete prior to Labor Day. Traffic is expected to remain open with temporary limits to lane use and property access.This project is funded by a combination of federal and local tax dollars as an MDOT project.
 
The downtown streetscape project includes the frontage of Miller Road between Holland Drive and Hayes Street. This project is funded by Downtown Development Authority reserves/loan, a contribution from Exxon (Holland Square access agreement), and the city's 2019 discretionary general fund. This project is expected to commence in June and be substantially complete in September. Traffic is expected to remain open with temporary limits to lane use and property access. The scope includes:
 
Surfacing of Holland Square for public use/parking
Replacement sidewalks on Miller
Limited forestry
Decorative lighting
Two pedestrian refuge islands for crossing Miller
Masonry barriers and decorative fending/landscaping to enclose specific public and private property features
Electrical service drops/area lighting for Holland Square
 
Additional preventative maintenance projects may still be scheduled for fall of 2019 depending on circumstances. This would include crack filling and road sealant. The city is also applying for new opportunistic grant to rehabilitate Hill Road between Seymour and the city limits.

May Street Updates

Published: Thursday, 03 May 2018 12:20 | Print
May 17, 2018 Supplement:  Restoration for 2017 projects is going to be increased in scope due to concerns about stones, roots, and grading issues. The contractor shall be engaged in additional restoration efforts that are expected to be complete by May 25th. Some additional trees shall be installed as well. Contact the city office if you are in the impacted area and desire one.
 
The Daval reconstruction is moving along. Sidewalks are in, with driveways and curb to follow. Road demolition is underway. With any luck the project should be substantially complete by mid-summer.
 
Additional work that has been slated for 2018 includes crack filling on:
 
Miller from Dye to Morrish
Parkridge Subdivision
Jennie Lane
Church Street
 
Rehabilitation is going to occur on:
 
Mason Street
Paul Fortino Drive
Maple/Crapo (repair by Morrish only)
 
Helmsley is projected to be reconstructed in 2019
 
See prior reports (below) to view the FAQ, which covers forestry, contacts, and other common matters.

April Street Update

Published: Thursday, 26 April 2018 09:25 | Print
Reconstruction on Daval Drive is waaaay ahead of schedule, despite the April snow, ice, and low temperatures. Forestry, and water main work are now substantially complete, and crews are working on sidewalk installation.  By the end of the month, we may even see the beginning of curb and road demolition. Overall, the project could be done by mid-summer.
 
Driveway interruptions for curb, sidewalk, and drive approach will occur. Notice will usually be one or two days due to scheduling with weather.
 
Restoration for last year's projects is pending! This will include filling low spots, replacing damaged concrete (please report any if you have not already), and planting grass. This has been delayed due to the long lasting winter.
 
With the project so far ahead of budget, the city council will be holding a special meeting at 7pm on April 30th to consider additional 2018 road work. Options include surface rehabilitation on select streets near downtown, Helmsley street reconstruction, and/or some combination of projects and saving for future projects. The meeting will be in the council chambers at 8083 Civic Drive.
 
See prior reports (below) to view the FAQ, which covers forestry, contacts, and other common matters.

March Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 06 March 2018 11:03 | Print

2018 will not be as busy as 2017. However, those residents on Daval will probably wish they were somewhere else by mid-summer.

Reconstruction of Daval is the sole reconstruction project for this year. Any rehabilitiation or maintenance projects will be announced in future reports.

The Daval project, though smaller in scope, will resemble the reconstruction efforts from last year and include the following:

  • Replacement of Consumers Energy gas services by Consumers Energy and/or their private contractors (March)
  • Removal of most street right-of-way trees (March)
  • Replacement of all water main, water services, and storm drain features (April-July)
  • Removal and replacment of the street, curb, gutter, sidewalk, street trees, select decorative lamps/signs (July-September)
Staging for construction is to take place in Winshall Park, near Whitney Court. Equipment and materials will be here throughout the duration of the project.

Waste and recycling is still planned for curbside pickup.

Driveway interuptions will occur as necessary to trench water main, remove/replace curb/sidewalk/drive approaches. The estimated interuptions that are expected to deny access are overnight is set at 6-8 days. The contract will inform you in advance of these interuptions and indicate where you should be able to park.

See prior reports (below) to view the FAQ, which covers forestry, timelines, and other common matters.

Common contacts are:

City Hall (general questions):                 810.635.4464

Joe Pacek (construction issues):               810.869.5108

Contractor (for private work add-ons):     810.487.1560

November Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 29 November 2017 09:18 | Print
All 2017 street work in the community is substantially complete! This does not mean we have seen the last of the contractors! Expect to see a few more tree plantings and soil restoration now and after the snow melts. We anticipate damage to newly placed top soil and seed areas in the right-of-way during the winter. The engineer indicates that additional compaction/settling over the water main is expected and will be revisited in the spring.
 
The reconstruction finished in mid-November. There are some common concerns and questions out there that have responses below:
 
Q: Was the project behind schedule?
A: Yes, but within expectations. The engineer indicated that the project scope (including gas lines, water main, storm lines, street replacement, sidewalks, driveways, and forestry) would be expected to occupy a March-November construction season, possibly even extending into the next spring. However, the contractor's published scheduled indicated an October completion that residents relied upon. Moving forward, similar projects will be started with the expectation that they will conclude around November 15.
 
Q: Did the contractor 'disappear' when they should have been working?
A: The subcontractor for concrete DID lose time during good weather in August/September and this DID slow the rest of the project down. The prime contractor did their best to manage this issue. Gas, water main, storm, and asphalt work were found to be completed timely by the appropriate contractors.
 
Q: Was it too cold to apply asphalt?
A: No, the engineer was pestered about this matter by staff due to common sense concerns by the community. The application of asphalt was objectively applied within acceptable parameters set by the Michigan Department of Transportation. (Note that the temperature thresholds apply to the earthen base of application, not air temperature).
 
Q: Why did my tree get cut down if it was not in the way of utilities?
A: All trees in the the project area were audited by the city engineer, an arborist, and the street administrator. Most mature, large canopy trees (Maples over 30 years old) were ordered removed due to their expected impact on the new curb, sidewalk, and other infrastructure. Large canopy trees are generally not appropriate or desirable in a street right of way. Some trees were found to be unhealthy and removed. Most were found to have conflicts with the current construction.
 
Q: Why did I get a tree if I did not want one?
A: The city, upon the recommendation by the street committee, committed to adding forestry to the streets in the reconstruction zone. It is known that some resident owners are large advocates of trees and some are opposed to any form of forestry. Initially, staff attempted to accommodate requests for tree location, number, and species. However, it immediately became apparent that the personal accommodation of 200 property owners was not enabling the public goal of "uniform forestry of the right of ways". As such, each lot was directed to have one tree (some would get more). If neighbors were able to liaise with the contractor to trade types or add/reduce numbers, we attempted to make this work. In some cases, hydrants, lights, and signs necessitate changes as well. Note that all trees are NON-fruit bearing ornamental, small, or medium canopy trees. Despite varieties that include "apple", "pear", and "maple", the greenhouse is providing hybrid varieties that are fruitless, smaller trees that have appropriate root systems and canopies for the street.
 
Q: Why was I not informed about work impacting my drive/street/yard in advance?
A: Communication was expected throughout the project, with broad details distributed by mail and specific work items to be hand delivered by the contractor.  Unfortunately, the initial communication plan lacked an air tight system for ensuring residents were aware of all 'digs' impacting their property. Moving forward, the city is working with the contractor to develop an array of 'door hangers' and a detailed communication plan to cover for most eventualities.
 
Q: Why did the post office cease operations?
A: The city was not made aware of this until after it happened. Operations never should have ceased. It will not happen again.
 
Q: What is the plan for next year?
A: Daval Drive has been approved for reconstruction. The scale of this project is much smaller and offers many more opportunities for nearby access/parking for residents. We expect a much smoother project as we head into our second year of reconstruction.
 
Q: Why has the provision for onstreet parking switched sides?
A: Based upon the recommendation of the street/utility administrator and Metro PD, parking is being directed to the side of the street without watermain and hydrants. This is a best practice that will slightly increase the availability of parking and decrease the conflict with hydrants and any future emergency line access.

October Street Updates

Published: Wednesday, 11 October 2017 10:26 | Print
The finishing touches have been applied to Ingalls and Abbey, with a small amount of ground restoration still needed. As of writing, the preventative maintenance "cape seal" is being applied to the downtown streets and Jennie Lane. It looks good! Better late than never...pretty sure if we read past articles, it was supposed to happen in July.
 
Concerning our reconstruction projects, the watermain work is a thing of the past! Sidewalks and road demolition are underway now, with most work complete on Worchester and Chesterfield. Curbs and drive approaches are due in the month of October, with asphalt expected to quickly follow. The engineer and contract both affirm the ability and motivation to complete on schedule by mid-November, but we definitely lost time. There is no question that the flat work (concrete sub-contractor) had some scheduling issues which slowed down the demolition work of the general contractor, along with subsequent asphalt work.
 
The contractor will do their best to notify residents of drive access interruptions due to concrete work, as well as parking arrangements. If you are ticketed for on street parking in relation to this issue, please contact city hall! Please work with us during this most difficult phase. We understand that timing is not as reliable as we would like and that a lack of drive access is very inconvenient.

Trick or Treating in the city will officially be recognized on October 31st from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Treat or Treating will NOT be permitted in the street reconstructions zones of Worchester, Chesterfield, and Winston Drives for safety reasons!

September Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 06 September 2017 14:16 | Print
September should be a busy month for all the street projects. Here is the scoop:
 
Ingalls should be complete, with the exception of turf restoration by Saturday, September 9th.
 
Abbey should also be complete by the 9th. Note that this project was delayed by unforeseen subgrade conditions that require some full depth reconstruction. Though this certainly caused a delay, the road will have a much longer life due to the additional work.
 
The final 'cape seal' process for those streets due for preventative maintenance will commence following the completion of INgalls street. This last component was delayed to protect the coating from construction traffic in the vicinity. Applciation should only take one or two days and will result in a finished, uniform, and black surface.
 
Sidewalk replacement is underway on Worchester. Concrete work will continue in phases throughout the reconstruction area of Worchester, Winston, and Chesterfield. Once curbing is in place, road removal and replacement can begin. While no longer ahead of schedule, the contractor still anticipates completion this season.

August Update!

Published: Monday, 14 August 2017 14:13 | Print

Work on Abbey Lane and Ingalls Street is underway, with concrete work and milling of asphalt occuring the week of the 14th. The plan is to have substantial completion before school starts. There is more rain that is typical for August in the forecast that we hope we can work through.

We are still unable to pin down the contractor that was approved to apply the cape seal to the streets slated for preventative maintanance. This work was to begin on July 25th and has still not commenced. Once the contractor begins, all work should be completed within two or three business days and cause minimal disruption.

Reconstruction efforts will be in full swing soon for Chesterfield, Winston, and Worchester. This process will include total street, curb, drive approach, and sidewalk removal and replacement. There will be pronounced dust, noise, and access issues. Please work with our contractor to complete this as painlessly as possible. If you are experiencing issues that appear to be outside the expected scope of a reconstruction, please contact the city office at 810.635.4464.

March Street Update

Published: Tuesday, 06 March 2018 11:03 | Print

2018 will not be as busy as 2017. However, those residents on Daval will probably wish they were somewhere else by mid-summer.

Reconstruction of Daval is the sole reconstruction project for this year. Any rehabilitiation or maintenance projects will be announced in future reports.

The Daval project, though smaller in scope, will resemble the reconstruction efforts from last year and include the following:

  • Replacement of Consumers Energy gas services by Consumers Energy and/or their private contractors (March)
  • Removal of most street right-of-way trees (March)
  • Replacement of all water main, water services, and storm drain features (April-July)
  • Removal and replacment of the street, curb, gutter, sidewalk, street trees, select decorative lamps/signs (July-September)
Staging for construction is to take place in Winshall Park, near Whitney Court. Equipment and materials will be here throughout the duration of the project.

Waste and recycling is still planned for curbside pickup.

Driveway interuptions will occur as necessary to trench water main, remove/replace curb/sidewalk/drive approaches. The estimated interuptions that are expected to deny access are overnight is set at 6-8 days. The contract will inform you in advance of these interuptions and indicate where you should be able to park.

See prior reports (below) to view the FAQ, which covers forestry, timelines, and other common matters.

Common contacts are:

City Hall (general questions):                 810.635.4464

Joe Pacek (construction issues):               810.869.5108

Contractor (for private work add-ons):     810.487.1560

 

November Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 29 November 2017 09:18 | Print
All 2017 street work in the community is substantially complete! This does not mean we have seen the last of the contractors! Expect to see a few more tree plantings and soil restoration now and after the snow melts. We anticipate damage to newly placed top soil and seed areas in the right-of-way during the winter. The engineer indicates that additional compaction/settling over the water main is expected and will be revisited in the spring.
 
The reconstruction finished in mid-November. There are some common concerns and questions out there that have responses below:
 
Q: Was the project behind schedule?
A: Yes, but within expectations. The engineer indicated that the project scope (including gas lines, water main, storm lines, street replacement, sidewalks, driveways, and forestry) would be expected to occupy a March-November construction season, possibly even extending into the next spring. However, the contractor's published scheduled indicated an October completion that residents relied upon. Moving forward, similar projects will be started with the expectation that they will conclude around November 15.
 
Q: Did the contractor 'disappear' when they should have been working?
A: The subcontractor for concrete DID lose time during good weather in August/September and this DID slow the rest of the project down. The prime contractor did their best to manage this issue. Gas, water main, storm, and asphalt work were found to be completed timely by the appropriate contractors.
 
Q: Was it too cold to apply asphalt?
A: No, the engineer was pestered about this matter by staff due to common sense concerns by the community. The application of asphalt was objectively applied within acceptable parameters set by the Michigan Department of Transportation. (Note that the temperature thresholds apply to the earthen base of application, not air temperature).
 
Q: Why did my tree get cut down if it was not in the way of utilities?
A: All trees in the the project area were audited by the city engineer, an arborist, and the street administrator. Most mature, large canopy trees (Maples over 30 years old) were ordered removed due to their expected impact on the new curb, sidewalk, and other infrastructure. Large canopy trees are generally not appropriate or desirable in a street right of way. Some trees were found to be unhealthy and removed. Most were found to have conflicts with the current construction.
 
Q: Why did I get a tree if I did not want one?
A: The city, upon the recommendation by the street committee, committed to adding forestry to the streets in the reconstruction zone. It is known that some resident owners are large advocates of trees and some are opposed to any form of forestry. Initially, staff attempted to accommodate requests for tree location, number, and species. However, it immediately became apparent that the personal accommodation of 200 property owners was not enabling the public goal of "uniform forestry of the right of ways". As such, each lot was directed to have one tree (some would get more). If neighbors were able to liaise with the contractor to trade types or add/reduce numbers, we attempted to make this work. In some cases, hydrants, lights, and signs necessitate changes as well. Note that all trees are NON-fruit bearing ornamental, small, or medium canopy trees. Despite varieties that include "apple", "pear", and "maple", the greenhouse is providing hybrid varieties that are fruitless, smaller trees that have appropriate root systems and canopies for the street.
 
Q: Why was I not informed about work impacting my drive/street/yard in advance?
A: Communication was expected throughout the project, with broad details distributed by mail and specific work items to be hand delivered by the contractor.  Unfortunately, the initial communication plan lacked an air tight system for ensuring residents were aware of all 'digs' impacting their property. Moving forward, the city is working with the contractor to develop an array of 'door hangers' and a detailed communication plan to cover for most eventualities.
 
Q: Why did the post office cease operations?
A: The city was not made aware of this until after it happened. Operations never should have ceased. It will not happen again.
 
Q: What is the plan for next year?
A: Daval Drive has been approved for reconstruction. The scale of this project is much smaller and offers many more opportunities for nearby access/parking for residents. We expect a much smoother project as we head into our second year of reconstruction.
 
Q: Why has the provision for onstreet parking switched sides?
A: Based upon the recommendation of the street/utility administrator and Metro PD, parking is being directed to the side of the street without watermain and hydrants. This is a best practice that will slightly increase the availability of parking and decrease the conflict with hydrants and any future emergency line access.

October Street Updates

Published: Wednesday, 11 October 2017 10:26 | Print
The finishing touches have been applied to Ingalls and Abbey, with a small amount of ground restoration still needed. As of writing, the preventative maintenance "cape seal" is being applied to the downtown streets and Jennie Lane. It looks good! Better late than never...pretty sure if we read past articles, it was supposed to happen in July.
 
Concerning our reconstruction projects, the watermain work is a thing of the past! Sidewalks and road demolition are underway now, with most work complete on Worchester and Chesterfield. Curbs and drive approaches are due in the month of October, with asphalt expected to quickly follow. The engineer and contract both affirm the ability and motivation to complete on schedule by mid-November, but we definitely lost time. There is no question that the flat work (concrete sub-contractor) had some scheduling issues which slowed down the demolition work of the general contractor, along with subsequent asphalt work.
 
The contractor will do their best to notify residents of drive access interruptions due to concrete work, as well as parking arrangements. If you are ticketed for on street parking in relation to this issue, please contact city hall! Please work with us during this most difficult phase. We understand that timing is not as reliable as we would like and that a lack of drive access is very inconvenient.

Trick or Treating in the city will officially be recognized on October 31st from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Treat or Treating will NOT be permitted in the street reconstructions zones of Worchester, Chesterfield, and Winston Drives for safety reasons!

September Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 06 September 2017 14:16 | Print
September should be a busy month for all the street projects. Here is the scoop:
 
Ingalls should be complete, with the exception of turf restoration by Saturday, September 9th.
 
Abbey should also be complete by the 9th. Note that this project was delayed by unforeseen subgrade conditions that require some full depth reconstruction. Though this certainly caused a delay, the road will have a much longer life due to the additional work.
 
The final 'cape seal' process for those streets due for preventative maintenance will commence following the completion of INgalls street. This last component was delayed to protect the coating from construction traffic in the vicinity. Applciation should only take one or two days and will result in a finished, uniform, and black surface.
 
Sidewalk replacement is underway on Worchester. Concrete work will continue in phases throughout the reconstruction area of Worchester, Winston, and Chesterfield. Once curbing is in place, road removal and replacement can begin. While no longer ahead of schedule, the contractor still anticipates completion this season.
 

August Update!

Published: Monday, 14 August 2017 14:13 | Print

Work on Abbey Lane and Ingalls Street is underway, with concrete work and milling of asphalt occuring the week of the 14th. The plan is to have substantial completion before school starts. There is more rain that is typical for August in the forecast that we hope we can work through.

We are still unable to pin down the contractor that was approved to apply the cape seal to the streets slated for preventative maintanance. This work was to begin on July 25th and has still not commenced. Once the contractor begins, all work should be completed within two or three business days and cause minimal disruption.

Reconstruction efforts will be in full swing soon for Chesterfield, Winston, and Worchester. This process will include total street, curb, drive approach, and sidewalk removal and replacement. There will be pronounced dust, noise, and access issues. Please work with our contractor to complete this as painlessly as possible. If you are experiencing issues that appear to be outside the expected scope of a reconstruction, please contact the city office at 810.635.4464.

Water Outage Wednesday, Aug. 2nd

Published: Tuesday, 01 August 2017 14:21 | Print

Water will be off tomorrow 8/2/17 approximately  8:30 am until around 3:00 pm on the following streets:

Seymour from Young to Miller

Chesterfield from Daval to Eaton & Natalie

July Street Update Supplement

Published: Monday, 24 July 2017 10:40 | Print

Preventative maintenance on streets slated for the slurry seal is expected to occur between July 25th and Juily 28th.

Ingalls Street and Abbey Lane are slated for resurfacing. This will include some curb replacement, milling of the top asphalt layer, and replacement with new asphalt. Ingalls Street, between School and Fairchild is proposed for narrowing, which will include a new curb and sidewalk installation on the north side. This change will eliminate onstreet parking, increase pedestrian safety, and lower the design speed. This project is expected to be substantially complete in mid-September.

July Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 12 July 2017 09:16 | Print

The city will be completing a ‘cape seal’ project on the following streets:

1st Street

2nd Street

3rd Street

Brady: Ingalls to Miller

Jennie Lane

Ford: Ingalls to Miller

Hayes: Ingalls to Miller

Mclain Street

Wade Street

The contractor intends to begin July 25th and complete all work by July 27th. The treatment will include chip seal application with a top coat of asphalt slurry. For those in the downtown area, this surface treatment will resemble the maintenance that occurred approximately eight years ago. This form of maintenance has an expected life of 5-10 years.

The application of this surface treatment will close the streets to through traffic and will limit drive access during application for limited periods of time.

City Streets Updates - June 2017

Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2017 08:43 | Print

Reconstruction is progressing well as we approach summer!

Forestry activities are complete.

Worchester – Water main has been installed, pressure tested, chlorinated and bacterial analysis has been completed. Service installation is expected to begin on June 13.

Chesterfield – Water main has been installed, pressure tested and chlorinated. Samples were taken on June 12.

Winston – Water main installation is underway and should be complete by June 14.

Storm Sewer - Survey was out Friday and today staking the new storm sewer on Worchester, Chesterfield. The contractor anticipates starting this work on or before June 19.

Preservation work on select downtown streets is expected to occur in late June. The disruption should be minimal.

May 2017 Update

Published: Thursday, 11 May 2017 09:56 | Print

Forestry is substantially complete in the reconstruction area. Water main is to be delivered beginning May 12, with excavation activities expected to begin on or soon after May 15.

Staging for construction is to take place ihn Winshall Park, near Whitney Court. Equipment and materials will be here throughout the duration of the project.

Waste and recycling is still planned for curbside pickup.

Driveway interuptions will occur as necessary to trench water main, remove/replace curb/sidewalk/drive approaches. The estimated interuptions that are expected to deny access are overnight is set at 6-8 days. The contract will inform you in advance of these interuptions and indicate where you should be able to park.

Contact city hall with questions at 810.635.4464.

Water Outage Wednesday, Aug. 2nd

Published: Tuesday, 01 August 2017 14:21 | Print

Water will be off tomorrow 8/2/17 approximately  8:30 am until around 3:00 pm on the following streets:

Seymour from Young to Miller

Chesterfield from Daval to Eaton & Natalie

July Street Update Supplement

Published: Monday, 24 July 2017 10:40 | Print

Preventative maintenance on streets slated for the slurry seal is expected to occur between July 25th and Juily 28th.

Ingalls Street and Abbey Lane are slated for resurfacing. This will include some curb replacement, milling of the top asphalt layer, and replacement with new asphalt. Ingalls Street, between School and Fairchild is proposed for narrowing, which will include a new curb and sidewalk installation on the north side. This change will eliminate onstreet parking, increase pedestrian safety, and lower the design speed. This project is expected to be substantially complete in mid-September.

July Street Update

Published: Wednesday, 12 July 2017 09:16 | Print

The city will be completing a ‘cape seal’ project on the following streets:

1st Street

2nd Street

3rd Street

Brady: Ingalls to Miller

Jennie Lane

Ford: Ingalls to Miller

Hayes: Ingalls to Miller

Mclain Street

Wade Street

The contractor intends to begin July 25th and complete all work by July 27th. The treatment will include chip seal application with a top coat of asphalt slurry. For those in the downtown area, this surface treatment will resemble the maintenance that occurred approximately eight years ago. This form of maintenance has an expected life of 5-10 years.

The application of this surface treatment will close the streets to through traffic and will limit drive access during application for limited periods of time.

City Streets Updates - June 2017

Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2017 08:43 | Print

Reconstruction is progressing well as we approach summer!

Forestry activities are complete.

Worchester – Water main has been installed, pressure tested, chlorinated and bacterial analysis has been completed. Service installation is expected to begin on June 13.

Chesterfield – Water main has been installed, pressure tested and chlorinated. Samples were taken on June 12.

Winston – Water main installation is underway and should be complete by June 14.

Storm Sewer - Survey was out Friday and today staking the new storm sewer on Worchester, Chesterfield. The contractor anticipates starting this work on or before June 19.

Preservation work on select downtown streets is expected to occur in late June. The disruption should be minimal.

May 2017 Update

Published: Thursday, 11 May 2017 09:56 | Print

Forestry is substantially complete in the reconstruction area. Water main is to be delivered beginning May 12, with excavation activities expected to begin on or soon after May 15.

Staging for construction is to take place ihn Winshall Park, near Whitney Court. Equipment and materials will be here throughout the duration of the project.

Waste and recycling is still planned for curbside pickup.

Driveway interuptions will occur as necessary to trench water main, remove/replace curb/sidewalk/drive approaches. The estimated interuptions that are expected to deny access are overnight is set at 6-8 days. The contract will inform you in advance of these interuptions and indicate where you should be able to park.

Contact city hall with questions at 810.635.4464.

City Streets Updates - March 2017

Published: Wednesday, 01 March 2017 08:31 | Print

The pre-construction meeting for the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects has been held. We are still awaiting final details regarding waste collection options during construction and the final forestry plan. For now, it appears that waste collection will be at the curb for most of the project. The revised plans also call for replacement 5' sidewalk on both sides of Chesterfield, Worchester, and Winston.

Expect the gas line replacement to end at the beginning of April, followed by tree removal. Watermain replacement will then commence in phases, with street construction to occur in late summer/early fall. Check out the proposed construction schedule here.

Preventative maintenance bids have been approved for seal coating for about half of the downtown streets, including First, Second, Third, Wade, Brady (north of Ingalls), McLain (north of Ingalls), Ford, Hayes, as well as Jennie Lane in Ottoburn Heights.  This project will create a lessor distrubance and require less time than the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. A time has not yet been set for commencement.

City Streets Updates - February 2017

Published: Thursday, 23 February 2017 04:07 | Print

Street reconstruction and rehabilitation projects for 2017 have been approved and are in the pre-construction planning phase. Streets slated for reconstruction this year include:

Chesterfield (Seymour-Winston)

Winston

Worchester

The reconstruction projects will include complete removal and replacement of the road and curb, installation of new water main on the same side as the existing watermain, new driveway approaches, replacement sidewalk on the water main side, replacement of most trees on the water main side, and replacement of some trees on the non-water main side.

The general timeline will include replacement of the gas lines and services by Consumers Energy in March, water main work from April - June, and road replacement from June - November. This project will be messy and a horrible inconvenience! There will be interruptions in access, water service, and waste collection. The city and contractor will attempt to keep folks informed of these project occurrences via the city's webpage, Facebook, door hangers, the newsletter, and job site bulletin boards.

If you are directly impacted, expect to have waste services halted this summer. A garbage, yard waste, and recycling drop off point is planned for the center parking lot of Winshall Park.

In addition, there are streets slated for rehabilitation. These include:

Abbey Lane (new asphalt with some curb replacement)

Ingalls (new asphalt with some curb replacement, as well as a narrowing and sidewalk addition between Fairchild and School)

Lastly, many downtown streets are slated for a seal coat as a preventative maintenance feature. These bids have not yet been approved.

City Streets Updates - October 2016

Published: Wednesday, 12 October 2016 11:10 | Print

Overband crack sealant is being applied to many miles of major and local streets, beginning October 12, 2016. This will create a bumpy ride for a few weeks, but it should settle in nicely by the time winter weather rolls in. Please be mindful of construction workers! The city has also contracted with a company to stripe the impacted roads so that we have visible markings for those long, dark winter commutes.

Concerning traffic circles and other features, there are no plans to include these in the upcoming street reconstruction projects (see the link for upcoming repairs and maintenance). However, pedestrian medians (islands) may be considered after bids are received in the spring. Please note that those streets slated for reconstruction are also proposed to have water main replaced. This means that the side with the existing water main shall be excavated, with all trees, sidewalk, and driveway approaches removed. This work is expected to be prolonged, beginning in April and ending in November. It will be unpleasant, with interruptions to access, waste collection, and water pressure. Please pardon the dust. Contact city hall with questions at 810.635.4464.

City Streets Updates

Published: Monday, 12 September 2016 09:20 | Print

This page will be used to keep you up to date on the latest road construction projects in the City of Swartz Creek over the next many years to come.

City Streets Updates - March 2017

Published: Wednesday, 01 March 2017 08:31 | Print

The pre-construction meeting for the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects has been held. We are still awaiting final details regarding waste collection options during construction and the final forestry plan. For now, it appears that waste collection will be at the curb for most of the project. The revised plans also call for replacement 5' sidewalk on both sides of Chesterfield, Worchester, and Winston.

Expect the gas line replacement to end at the beginning of April, followed by tree removal. Watermain replacement will then commence in phases, with street construction to occur in late summer/early fall. Check out the proposed construction schedule here.

Preventative maintenance bids have been approved for seal coating for about half of the downtown streets, including First, Second, Third, Wade, Brady (north of Ingalls), McLain (north of Ingalls), Ford, Hayes, as well as Jennie Lane in Ottoburn Heights.  This project will create a lessor distrubance and require less time than the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. A time has not yet been set for commencement.

City Streets Updates - February 2017

Published: Thursday, 23 February 2017 04:07 | Print

Street reconstruction and rehabilitation projects for 2017 have been approved and are in the pre-construction planning phase. Streets slated for reconstruction this year include:

Chesterfield (Seymour-Winston)

Winston

Worchester

The reconstruction projects will include complete removal and replacement of the road and curb, installation of new water main on the same side as the existing watermain, new driveway approaches, replacement sidewalk on the water main side, replacement of most trees on the water main side, and replacement of some trees on the non-water main side.

The general timeline will include replacement of the gas lines and services by Consumers Energy in March, water main work from April - June, and road replacement from June - November. This project will be messy and a horrible inconvenience! There will be interruptions in access, water service, and waste collection. The city and contractor will attempt to keep folks informed of these project occurrences via the city's webpage, Facebook, door hangers, the newsletter, and job site bulletin boards.

If you are directly impacted, expect to have waste services halted this summer. A garbage, yard waste, and recycling drop off point is planned for the center parking lot of Winshall Park.

In addition, there are streets slated for rehabilitation. These include:

Abbey Lane (new asphalt with some curb replacement)

Ingalls (new asphalt with some curb replacement, as well as a narrowing and sidewalk addition between Fairchild and School)

Lastly, many downtown streets are slated for a seal coat as a preventative maintenance feature. These bids have not yet been approved.

City Streets Updates - October 2016

Published: Wednesday, 12 October 2016 11:10 | Print

Overband crack sealant is being applied to many miles of major and local streets, beginning October 12, 2016. This will create a bumpy ride for a few weeks, but it should settle in nicely by the time winter weather rolls in. Please be mindful of construction workers! The city has also contracted with a company to stripe the impacted roads so that we have visible markings for those long, dark winter commutes.

Concerning traffic circles and other features, there are no plans to include these in the upcoming street reconstruction projects (see the link for upcoming repairs and maintenance). However, pedestrian medians (islands) may be considered after bids are received in the spring. Please note that those streets slated for reconstruction are also proposed to have water main replaced. This means that the side with the existing water main shall be excavated, with all trees, sidewalk, and driveway approaches removed. This work is expected to be prolonged, beginning in April and ending in November. It will be unpleasant, with interruptions to access, waste collection, and water pressure. Please pardon the dust. Contact city hall with questions at 810.635.4464.

City Streets Updates

Published: Monday, 12 September 2016 09:20 | Print

This page will be used to keep you up to date on the latest road construction projects in the City of Swartz Creek over the next many years to come.