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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Open House yields record turnout for MDOT

State officials address concerns over proposed M-52 realignment

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008

With changes to one of Manchester's main thoroughfares planned for next year, community residents came out in droves to find out more about the project Feb. 20.

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In an effort to solicit public input in the project, village officials along with the Manchester Downtown Development Authority and the Michigan Department of Transportation hosted an open house regarding the M-52 and downtown streetscape projects at the Manchester Village Hall.

Over the course of four hours, nearly 100 people from the area gained insight from village, DDA and MDOT officials on the projects, which are scheduled to begin in 2009.

"We're very pleased with the turnout and that members of the community wanted to review what was going on," village manager Jeff Wallace said. "It's a good reflection on the community to have such an interest in a topic that's important to them."

According to MDOT representative Lynne Kirby, public turnout was one of the best in years.

"It was the highest turnout I've ever seen for this area," Kirby said. "There's nothing worse than when you have these open houses and people don't come. It's nice to get the input of so many people."

The main focus of the M-52 project centers around the village. Road construction will take place along the M-52 corridor between Austin Road and Dutch Drive. According to MDOT, one lane of southbound M-52 traffic from Dutch Drive to Hibbard Street will be maintained during the project. All northbound traffic will be detoured along Hibbard Street and Dutch Drive. One lane of alternating traffic will be maintained between Austin Road and Hibbard Street (a temporary traffic signal will be used). Sections of the sidewalk along M-52 will also be closed during the project.

"Most people are for the project in general," Kirby said. "We've been working with the village for quite some time on this project."

Other improvements along the M-52 corridor include new water and storm sewer systems, curbs and gutters, sidewalks and structural work on the bridge over the River Raisin across from the village hall.

"There's a lot of interest from people about what's going on in front of their property," Kirby said. "People want to know what the road will look like and if the drainage systems will be working."

One of the main sticking points with the project involves the possible realignment of the intersection at M-52 and Main Street. Plans call for the north leg of the intersection to be realigned to provide a straighter path along M-52 across Main Street, but slow talks between the state and owners of the Borek-Jennings Funeral Home, which sits on the northeast corner of the intersection, regarding its historical designation has stalled the beginning of roadwork.

Originally scheduled for this spring, the project's start date was pushed back to spring 2009. If work on the project begins as scheduled, the completion date is December 2009. The project will be done concurrently with another resurfacing project taking place along M-52 from Dutch Drive north to I-94.

"(The realignment) is still up in the air until the owners of the funeral home and the state work things out," Wallace said. "But either way, the project will start in 2009. We're ready to start working once the negotiations with the funeral home are finished."

According to Kirby, MDOT is unable to start the project until the job is cleared by the state.

Along with the reconstruction of M-52, a facelift will also take place along Main Street through the DDA's streetscape project. The enhancements will be centered between Elton Drive and M-52 and includes new brick pavers, decorative street lighting, trees, benches and other amenities. Similar enhancements will also be made along M-52 between Duncan Street and Chi-Bro Park.

"MDOT is enthusiastic about the project, and hopefully we've had good feedback from people in the community," Wallace said.

The reconstruction of the Manchester corridor is part of a long project along M-52 which began about five years ago. Sections of the road have undergone construction, including from the Michigan-Ohio state line through Adrian.

To keep motorists updated on the developments of the M-52 reconstruction project, MDOT will post information at www.michigan.gov/laneclosures.

"The village has been great to work with and does a good job getting people informed," Kirby said. "The village is proactive, and we're very pleased with the public turnout at the open house."

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.