Road work ahead: Detours announced for Miller/Newport intersection and Madison Street
Signs were up along Miller Avenue on Monday night warning of the upcoming closure and detour at the Newport Road intersection.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
The work being done on the north half of Miller Avenue in the vicinity of Newport Road — along with some work on Newport — is expected to last through July 30, weather permitting.
This traffic control plan will be in place for three weeks at the Miller/Newport intersection. View larger version of map.
City of Ann Arbor
Miller Avenue will continue to operate with eastbound traffic being maintained along the south side of roadway and westbound traffic being detoured via Main Street, Huron Street/Jackson Avenue and Maple Road.
This phase of work at the Miller/Newport intersection is expected to be complete within three weeks.
Access for emergency vehicles, to driveways, and for pedestrians will be maintained to the fullest extent possible, according to the city.
Miller Avenue east and west of the project limits will remain open to two-way traffic.
This is the first of two stages involving the complete reconstruction of the Newport Road intersection as part of the Miller Avenue Improvement Project.
The work includes a new pavement section comprised of layers of sand, gravel and asphalt, as well as bicycle lanes, a raised-island pedestrian crossing on the east leg of the intersection, a left-turn lane on the west leg, and installation of new sidewalks in areas where none presently exist.
Also included in the plans are new sidewalk ramps and concrete bus stop pads to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, sidewalk repairs, and stormwater improvements.
Work on the intersection will be phased with southbound Newport Road traffic being maintained on either the west side or the east side of the roadway.
As a safety precaution, city officials ask motorists to please reduce speeds and drive cautiously through work zones.
The contractor on the project is Hoffman Brothers Inc.
Madison Street detour
The city also planned to implement a traffic control plan on Monday for major construction on Madison Street that's expected to last through Oct. 31.
The street remained open as of early Monday evening, though.
Orange barrels ready by the side of Madison Street on Monday evening. The road wasn't yet closed as of 7 p.m.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Eastbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Seventh Street, east on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Main Street. Westbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Main Street, west on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Seventh Street.
The Madison Street project includes the replacement of the existing water main with new 12-inch and 8-inch water mains, installation of a stormwater management system, replacement of the curb and gutter, curb ramps, some sidewalk and a complete reconstruction of the street from Main to Seventh.
Access to all driveways is being maintained during the construction. Pedestrian traffic on Madison also is being maintained.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Vince Caruso
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 2:57 a.m.
This are major Green Streets efforts of the city and city staff that has great potential for flood hazard mitigation and pollution reductions to the Huron River, as well as improvements with green plantings and alternative transportation. Glad to see this effort to not only reduce flooding and pollution but spending less money in the process. Parts of Madison with full rock beds below them will have no runoff from the roadway. When asked at the public meeting if these designs will reduce the floodplain the answer was yes it will and more so as other streets are rebuilt in similar fashion. Looking forward to the finished product and the improvements for these neighborhoods.
Chip Reed
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:07 a.m.
I've been seeing more drivers going west on Miller lately, driving though the construction.
Hmm
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
Saw some genius trying to do that last night and they had to pull a u-ey in the road. Guess they must be thinking that the signs don't apply to them or something
bunnyabbot
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:22 a.m.
I have noticed over the last few weeks while I have been on Miller heading into town cars NOT stopping at the stop sign at the bottom of Newport. Many roll right through it to come to the edge of the construction zone which means their car is sticking out into the east bound Miller lane while they try to see if someone is coming (which involves seeing around construction equipment). Twice last week a car went right through that stop sign, didn't stop at all to get onto Miller almost hitting me. I can't be the only one almost getting hit in that spot. They should just route all (thru) southbound Newport traffic to Red Oak or Ponoma too. That way those cars would be able to see clearly Miller traffic in both directions.
jcj
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:08 a.m.
If you are driving east on Miller you should expect cars to come out from Newport. And it does not hurt to cut them some slack and let some in as opposed to just plowing through because you have the right of way.