Chelsea approves funding for new light at M-52/Old US-12 during partial road reconstruction

As the Michigan Department of Transportation plans 2012 road construction on M-52 in Chelsea, the City Council has decided to fund up to $70,000 for an enhanced traffic light at the corner of Old US-12 and M-52.

Included in the state road project are a “mill and two-course hot mix asphalt overlay and a partial M-52 reconstruction," Lynn Kirby of the Brighton MDOT office said previously at an informational meeting about the project.

Also planned are ramp reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement, sidewalk upgrades to meet American Disabilities’ Act requirements as well as water main relocations and upgrades, Kirby said previously.

Originally, the 1.13 mile project was scheduled to take place this year, but it was pushed back and is expected to take place in the spring.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to fund a mast arm traffic light that will include improved signage for the intersection.

City Councilman Frank Hammer also asked Christine Linfield, city engineer and community development director, to request that the state install left turn arrows in both directions on Old US-12.

The funding for the light will come from the city’s electric fund.

It’s also expected as part of the project that the traffic lights at Brown Drive will be removed and Brown Drive will be reconstructed for right turns in and out. Drivers who want to turn left onto M-52 will have to do so via Commerce Park Drive.

The state is expected to put the project out for bids in March. An exact start date hasn’t been set but for the first 30 days of the project, the west side of M-52 is expected to have a temporary traffic light south of the highway exit to maintain two-way traffic in alternating directions.

Work will then flip to the east side of M-52 and southbound traffic will be maintained, but northbound traffic will be detoured on I-94 east to Fletcher Road and back around to Old US 12. This work is expected to last 30 days.

Next, the I-94 ramps will be reconstructed and the westbound I-94 entrance and exit ramps will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to the Pierce Road exit. This work is expected to last three weeks.

Then the eastbound I-94 ramps will be closed and traffic will be detoured to Pierce Road and Fletcher Road exits for the next three weeks.

Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Chelsea stories, visit our Chelsea page.For more Chelsea stories, visit our Chelsea page.