Another week of good weather continues to help Hoffman Bros. make solid progress on the Michigan Ave project. In addition to utility work, the lighting contractor has begun installing the light bases for the decorative lighting along the south side of the project. We will begin to see come streetscape work on S. Ann Arbor Street next week. Work on S. Ann Arbor also means that beginning Monday, June 27th, Hoffman Bros. is scheduled to close S. Ann Arbor Street between Michigan Ave and Henry Street for approximately one week. After the initial week-long closure, S. Ann Arbor Street will have intermittent closings for the next two to three weeks as streetscape work between the street and the buildings take place. Access will be maintained to the businesses, so please make every effort to shop locally; including the weekly farmers market on Saturday mornings in Downtown Saline.
Note: MDOT regulations require the contractor to stop work at 3pm on Friday because of the 4th of July weekend. Hoffman Bros crews will start back up on Tuesday, July 5th.
Note: The City of Saline will be selling pieces of the old street car tracks on a first come first served basis at City Hall, for those folks that would like to own a piece of Saline history. The cost is $25 for a 12” section of track; a portion of the proceeds will be used to pay for the cost of cutting up the track with the balance going towards a fundraiser to assist in paying for the new downtown streetscape. There will be information on the purchasing of the old tracks on the City’s website and Facebook page.
Week of June 27th
Traffic Information
Hoffman Bros. is scheduled to open S. Lewis Street back up by the end of the day on Saturday, June 25th. Hoffman Bros. crews will continue moving east and closing S. Ann Arbor Street on the morning of Monday, June 27th. S. Ann Arbor will remain closed for one week. Hoffman Bros will be working towards opening S. Ann Arbor Street back up over the 4th of July weekend if at all possible.
A friendly reminder – City staff encourages everyone to slow down, be patient and obey the traffic signs. In addition, please do not take short-cuts through private property, such as commercial and residential parking lots in an attempt to avoid the current traffic shifts/detour routes, as it is illegal and unsafe. Also, please be courteous to your fellow drivers and if possible, pause to let people out of their driveways.
Pedestrian Traffic
Regarding pedestrian traffic, there are parts of the construction zone that are not open to pedestrian traffic. For example, the walkway in front of Oakwood Cemetery on the Michigan Ave side is not open to pedestrian traffic; there are signs in place that say sidewalk closed. There are also signs designating alternate pedestrian routes throughout the construction zone. Please obey the signs and seek alternate pedestrian routes that don’t include walking down the middle of re-routed traffic lanes.
Construction Activities
Hoffman Bros. will be continuing forward with water main work this coming week. Additionally, crews will be working on installing water service lines and sanitary sewer laterals. Hoffman Bros. will also be working on streetscape items on S. Ann Arbor Street beginning next week. The contractor is required to maintain access to businesses throughout the construction project.
