Business Loop project ready to enter final phase
By Eric Young
Managing Editor | editor@ogemawherald.com
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WEST BRANCH — The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin the seventh and final stage of the 2012 West Branch Area Street Improvement Project this week, as the sixth phase finished up last week.
Three lanes of traffic were opened up on the I-75 Business Loop last week for the Labor Day weekend, and MDOT Project Manager Matt Radulski told the Herald Aug. 30 that the contractors would lay the final top layer of asphalt along the east portion of the Business Loop, wrapping up that portion of the project.
Overall, he said, the project has gone really well, especially due to the dry weather.
“This year has been very helpful for us and the contractor,” Radulski said. “As you are aware, there has not been a lot of rain. That has allowed us to work without any issues.”
Radulski said the project is still on schedule.
The final phase of the project includes the widening of the west end of the Business Loop from M-30 to Exit 215.
“We’ll be widening to the north,” Radulski said. “We’ll be adding in a third lane to make that a three-lane section.”
He said the project is still scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
Radulski said he’s been happy with the public’s response to the project.
“We’ve had a lot of good feedback from the public,” he said. “The contractor in the field has been getting good feedback. It’s been a good working experience.”
The project began April 2, and included the widening and complete reconstruction of the Business Loop from Exit 212 to Woodland Court as well as patchwork and repaving from Woodland Court to M-55.
The estimated cost of the project is around $7 million, all from state funds. Before this project, the Business Loop had not seen major reconstruction in more than 20 years.