The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Main pain
Construction project will cause major problems for Dexter, Chelsea motorists
By Sean Dalton, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
People living in or commuting through Dexter Village are going to have a tough drive through the downtown area for much of the remaining year.
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One of the largest of those projects will be the removal of the dam and replacement of the Main Street Bridge over Mill Creek.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission has prepared the following guide to answer questions that motorists may have:
What are the limits of the construction? Construction will include the removal and replacement of the existing Main Street Bridge over Mill Creek, and the staged removal of the Mill Creek Dam. The limits along Main Street will extend to the Fire Department driveway; along Dexter-Pinckney Road to 300 feet west of the bridge; along Dexter-Chelsea Road to 300 feet south of Dexter-Pinckney Road.
Who is the contractor for this project? The prime contractor is E.T. MacKenzie Co. of Ann Arbor. That firm also built the Parker Road Bridge over Mill Creek in 2007.
How is the project being paid for? The bid submitted by E.T. MacKenzie through the Michigan Department of Transportation bidding process was $2.52 million. This includes both "participating" and "non-participating" items of work. The participating items are being funded through MDOT Local Bridge Program, with 95 percent of the cost being paid by the State, and 5 percent being shared by the Washtenaw County Road Commission and the Village of Dexter.
The non-participating items, related to the dam removal and aesthetic features of the bridge, are being funded by the Village. Costs associated with right-of-way, construction inspection and surveying, and materials testing are also being paid by the WCRC and/or Village.
What is the construction schedule? The proposed construction start date is April 7, pending the suspension of springtime weight restrictions. Per the project specifications, the approach roadways and bridge are to be completely opened to traffic by the end of November 2008. Restoration work and other minor items are expected to carry over into next year, with final completion of the project in May 2009.
What will be the hours of construction? Hours are generally established by the contractor, based on the project schedule. It is common for contractor crews to work Monday through Saturday, roughly 10 to 12 hours per day. Per the project specifications, site work is to be suspended during recognized holiday weekends, and also during the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run and Dexter Daze. Placing of deck concrete during the summer months is required during nighttime hours, due to the effect of high daytime temperatures on concrete.
How will the new bridge and road approaches differ from the existing? The new bridge will be 101 feet long (the span over the creek) with a 47-foot, 9-inch clear roadway and 6-foot-widewide sidewalks. The existing bridge, built in 1931, is 75 feet long with a 40-foot clear roadway and 5-foot-wide sidewalks. With the associated road approach improvements, the new bridge will be striped for three lanes, including a left-turn lane for westbound (outbound) traffic. This will match the existing three-lane configuration in the village. Dexter-Chelsea Road will include left- and right-turn pockets and will be stop-controlled.
Based on funding constraints, the new sidewalks will not extend beyond the bridge.
Will traffic be maintained during the bridge construction/dam removal? The plan is to maintain two-way traffic during the construction of the new bridge. The first phase of the project will involve the removal of the south side (pond side) sidewalk. A temporary deck will be placed in the location of the sidewalk, thereby allowing sufficient room for traffic to be shifted. The north portion of the existing bridge will then be removed and the new bridge constructed.
With the limited room available for the proposed construction, intermittent closures with flagging will be likely. Most notably, a closure of Main Street will be needed to accommodate the delivery and placement of the new concrete I-beams. Traffic lanes will also be narrowed to accommodate this "part-width" construction scenario.
The existing bridge deck is in an advanced state of deterioration, as reflected by the current 7-ton weight restriction. During the widening of the deck and shifting of traffic, we will be closely monitoring the existing deck. If the existing deck shows signs of distress, it may become necessary for us to reevaluate the plan to maintain two directions of traffic.
Cyclists and pedestrians will not be allowed access during construction operations. Warrior Park will be closed during the construction.
Will trees be removed as part of the construction project? Trees will need to be removed to accommodate the construction of the new bridge and the removal of the dam. The number of trees removed will be kept to a minimum. Representatives of the Road Commission have met with affected property owners to discuss tree removal and disposal of wood.
How will access to adjacent properties be maintained? The contractor shall provide and maintain all temporary ramps, crossings, etc., necessary to provide access throughout the project; however, short delays will occasionally be needed to accommodate construction operations.
Can adjacent property owners have additional work done by contractor for the project? The contractor and any subcontractors are prohibited from performing any private work within the project area until the work governed by the Road Commission contract is completed.
Responsibility for protecting/relocating existing landscape features. Adjacent property owners are responsible for any lights, landscaping, sprinklers, fences or other personal property located within the public road right-of-way. The Road Commission is not responsible for damage to personal property items that remain within the public road right-of-way.
Safety: Safety is the most important aspect of the project. Please be mindful of the equipment, trucks, and personnel on the site. Please be attentive to all signs. If it is necessary for you to drive though the construction zone, please proceed at a slower, prudent speed. The speed limit in the construction zone will be 25 mph. In particular, those in the vicinity of the project should be mindful of hot-mix asphalt paving operations; burns are possible from contact with hot asphalt.
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