Road work wraps up on Ann Arbor's Dexter Avenue
Workers are wrapping up construction on Dexter Avenue in Ann Arbor.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Work on the section of road, from Maple Road to Huron Avenue, wrapped up recently after kicking off March 26. The section has not been paved in at least 30 years, which makes it older than the city’s electronic records system that dates to 1982, according to previous reports.
The finished project is expected to total more than the $3.37 million originally budgeted. A number of unexpected delays pushed the projection completion date back from Nov. 9. The project involved total reconstruction of the road, in addition to re-constructing the parking lot in the nearby Veterans Park as well as the bike path, installing some concrete curbs and landscaping.
Lindsay Bedolla, the manager at Knight's Steakhouse, 2324 Dexter Ave., said the restaurant is trying its best to get the word out about the reopening.
She said the closure didn't affect business too much, but lunches were a bit slower. Overall business was down about 5 percent.
The closure also affected employees, who sometimes had difficulty getting to the restaurant in the midst of the construction.
“It was more of a relief just for the customers," Bedolla said, adding that Knight's is grateful to its loyal customers who visited despite detours.
Associate News Director Cindy Heflin contributed to this report.
View Lane Closure Map in a larger map
Comments
ToddAustin
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
The road looks terrific. We appreciate the care and hard work that went into making it happen! I very much like the way it comes into Huron as a single lane. That intersection is so much more safe and sane now. The end over by Maple is a little odd. The lanes don't line up with the continuation on the west side of Maple and people are often driving across the lane markers, trying to figure out where they should be. Will there be additional work done on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road west of Maple that makes things line up again?
Hmm
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
Will make it easy to get to Aldi's again
Barbara Clarke
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.
Thank God!
LA
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 5:28 p.m.
The workers were always very nice and helpful to us living in the area. It looks great.
justcurious
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
Just in time for the Jackson Road debacle. Can't wait for that travesty. Glad I'm not a commuter anymore. Now Miller Ave's minefield repaving is next year, right?
hotsauce_gm
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
"The section has not been paved in at least 30 years" It had pavement every time I drove on it... Don't you mean "re-paved"? Sorry, just saying...
unclemercy
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
well they did say they would be done in november. very happy the barrels are gone.
Silly Sally
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
This project was a boondoggle, caused partly by the city insisting on doing it in small sections at a time instead of allowing a contractor to bid on the whole project. This then allows them to repave a long section all at once for example, instead of having to rent the equipment each time for each separate section. I could be wrong, but this is what I was told by two different workers as I waited to pass. They were clearly frustrated with city hall policies, and said so. I've seen other similar projects in other cities in other states completed in one-half to one-third the time that this took. Time is money, except in Ann Arbor. This was most unfair to local residents and local businesses.
SemperFi
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
I'm not so sure that an individual directing traffic for a construction project knows all the nuances to a major construction project like this one. I'm glad it's completed and done right.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
I drove on it the other day and I didn't know my car could ride that smooth. It's a nice road.
Barzoom
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 11:56 a.m.
Great!....Hopefully the congestion on Jackson will be reduced. At least until they change it to three lanes.
mike gatti
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 11:45 a.m.
Looks really nice
zanzerbar
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
I do appreciate the new bike lanes, and finally a smooth ride.
Silly Sally
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
Oh, those bike lanes justify it all... We use them all winter! How about Ann Arbor Saline Road potholes near I-94??