MDOT plans $9.75M 28th Street overhaul

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A $9.75 million construction project to upgrade 28th Street between Breton Road and I-96 will affect traffic from mid-March to early October.

28th Street will be resurfaced from Breton Road east to Patterson Avenue and reconstructed from Patterson east to I-96.

Additionally, a right-turn lane will be added. Street lights will be improved and traffic signals will be upgraded for better timing. New sidewalks will also be put in with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp upgrades.

The project will be paid for completely by existing gas taxes and registration fees, according to Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman John Richard.

Resident Tracy Roby said she is glad 28th Street is getting improvements because she drives it almost every day.

"The streets are kind of hard on your vehicles and everything, so anything that's going to help with that so you can keep a car longer and not do so many repairs is a good thing," she said.

MDOT says the project is expected to start March 11 after the weather warms slightly. Traffic impact won't start until around March 20, and major impacts are expected to begin around April 2. All work is expected to be completed by Nov. 22 and drivable by Oct. 4.

At least one lane in each direction will be open at all times, according to MDOT. Left-turn lanes at Patterson Avenue, Northern Industrial Drive and Hotel Avenue will remain open. Businesses and highway ramps will remain accessible at all times.

MDOT says resurfacing work will mainly be done from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., but that there will be some daytime closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for sidewalk ramp work and pavement markings. 

"Hopefully it won't slow things down too much," Roby said.

Businesses along 28th Street are hoping the same.

Play It Again Sports is starting to get busy with spring sports seasons coming up. But the construction could affect business.

"28th street is always such a hassle anyway, and it's just going to make even more of a mess," said manager Conner Hammersmith.

"The resurfacing and reconstruction of M-11 will increase the service life of the roadway, and improve safety and ride quality," MDOT said in a statement.

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The next big local MDOT project is an addition of a weave/merge lane on northbound U.S. 131 from the Leonard Street on-ramp to the Ann Street off-ramp. That project is scheduled to begin in April and finish at the end of October.

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"MDOT's 2013 road and bridge program supports the creation of jobs, growth of the economy, preservation of the environment and the safety and security of the transportation system," according to a statement.

A public open house about the construction project is set for March 6 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Kent District Library - Cascade Township branch. MDOT officials will provide information about the project and take questions and input from the public.

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Cascade Public Library - Wisner Center
2870 Jack Smith Ave. SE
Cascade Township

For special accommodations, call 616.464.1800

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28th Street construction project breakdown courtesy MDOT --

Stage 1:  From early March through early April -- c onstruct temporary widening along the north side of M-11 including traffic signal work and utility relocations.  

From early March through mid-March, there will be intermittent, single, right-lane closures on both eastbound and westbound M-11. 

From mid-March through early-April, one westbound lane, a center turn lane and two eastbound lanes will be maintained on M-11.  

Stage 2: Early April through mid-July -- reconstruct eastbound M-11

M-11

One lane, each, of eastbound and westbound M-11 will be maintained on the westbound lanes including a left-turn lane at the intersections of Patterson Avenue, Northern Industrial Drive and Hotel Avenue.   

Patterson Avenue Intersection Construction

The south half of the intersection will be constructed, one quadrant at a time. One northbound lane and one southbound lane will be maintained on Patterson Avenue.

I-96 Ramp Terminal Construction

Access to and from M-11 will be maintained at all times.  

Stage 3: Mid July through early October -- reconstruct westbound M-11

M-11

One lane, each of eastbound and westbound M-11 will be maintained on the eastbound lanes including a left-turn lane at the intersections of Patterson Avenue, Northern Industrial Drive and Hotel Avenue.   

Patterson Avenue Intersection Construction

The north half of the intersection will be constructed, one quadrant at a time. One northbound and one southbound lane will be maintained on Patterson Avenue.  

Stage 4: Early October through late November -- remove the temporary widening on the south side of M-11.  

During this time, one eastbound lane, a center turn lane and two westbound lanes will be maintained on M-11.