South Main lane closure starts Sunday
Drivers, brace yourselves: The dreaded closure of 1 lane of South Main Street at Michigan Stadium starts Sunday.
The lane closest to the stadium will close roughly from Snyder Avenue to Keech Avenue, according to information from the city. However, traffic will be shifted so that two northbound lanes will remain, but only one southbound lane (see sketch at end of story). The southbound left-turn lane from Main to Stadium will remain open.
The sidewalk on the east side of Main Street will also be closed. The sidewalk on the west side will stay open.
The city says Main Street is scheduled to be fully reopened by July 15.
The street is being closed in order to do masonry work on the west side of the Michigan Stadium expansion and renovation project. That project is on track to be fully completed by the start of this year's college football season.
Comments
tracyann
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
What the heck is a "gownie"?
MikeyP
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.
Saying the city gets no benefit from having one of the largest sporting venues in the world located here is disingenuous. I don't see the neighbors complaining when they're charging cars $40 (or more) a pop to park on their lawns. I'm sure the local restaurants are heartbroken that some portion of these people will be visiting their establishments (and they, unlike the lawn parking providers, pay TAXES on that income!) I'm sure Ann Arbor would be just as successful of the U wasn't here, since no good comes from the U for the city, LOL! The city knows where their bread is buttered. Ann Arbor would be a suburban dive like Warren if it wasn't for the U. So closing off a driving lane for a few months is a small price to pay. This current townie, current U staffie and former gownie will be as inconvenienced as ANYONE by this lane closure, but it DOES support the common good so I can certainly live with it.
Brad
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 8:03 a.m.
Comparing the stadium work to Broadway or Stadium bridge work makes little sense and borders on being disingenuous. On one hand you have main traffic arteries serving the city that periodically require repair. On the other hand you have a non-city and not particularly city-friendly entity that wants to spiff up their stadium so that they can grab more money. The building is used for what - 4 hours at a crack 7 times per year? And the people living nearby have had to put up with the constant construction noise and traffic for two years? Why is that again? According to the U's PR guy, it's for the "common good". Yeah - the common good of the U.
MikeyP
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 9:18 p.m.
What about the bus stops along that stretch of road? There is one right in the middle of the blocked off area (coincidently the one I use to get to work every morning.)
dconkey
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.
Get over it, it is a safety deal. if both lanes were open and a brick fell on someone's car, there would be a big to do over how the city could let it happen. it is only for a few months. We have been dealing with the Stadium bridge for a lot longer, and from the looks of it, maybe dealing with it for the rest of time. The toll both should be set up there to bring in funds to rebuild that bridge.
bruceae
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 4:38 p.m.
Amazing how the Ann Arbor City Council Lap Dogs keep giving U of M everything they want. Now we can all deal with this so they can finish building their new palace. And this from a group that does nothing for the city other than buy up property and take it off the tax roles
tracyann
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 2:39 p.m.
Great. My drive to and from classes should be a joy.
actionjackson
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
Art Fair and Michigan football really do rule the traffic patterns in Ann Arbor don't they?