Grand Rapids City Construction

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Construction projects on the streets of the five contiguous municipalities that comprise metropolitan Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, Wyoming, Kentwood, East Grand Rapids.
    Jenison is an unincorporated community in Georgetown Township, where the big city is actually Hudsonville. And voters in Grand Rapids Township more than once have turned down the opportunity to incorporate as the City of Forest Hills, much the pity.
 

City of Grand Rapids helpful web pages: Some work on city streets is funded and directed by agencies other than city government, like M-DOT and Kent County, and won't necessarily show up on the city's web site.

Below are narrative summaries and text from notifications from the city's Traffic Safety Department. Keep in mind projects are subject to the conflicting vagaries of the weather, budgets, chance, forgotten subterranean artifacts and human nature; some are long-term and some are short-lived; and all we can give you is information about plans and intentions. These efforts do not relieve drivers of the responsibility of paying attention.

UPCOMING, NEW & NOTABLE

Downtown: Division Ave. and Lyon St.

May 6, 2008 — Division Ave. is closed at Lyon St., and Lyon is closed from Barclay Ave. to Division. Lyon, which is usually one-way westbound,  is now carrying two-way traffic between Barclay and Lafayette Aves.
    Division should open by Friday (May 9), but Lyon will be closed until August. Work on Division will also include scraping and resurfacing, but maybe not until much later in the season.
    Lyon runs through Grand Rapids Community College, and just south of the Spectrum Butterworth Hospital complex.
    When the second phase starts in August, Lyon will have one lane open from Barclay to Division, while the east section is rebuilt between Barclay and Lafayette Aves. The intersection of Lyon and Lafayette will close for up to six days.

Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: LYON
Where: FROM DIVISION TO BARCLAY
Starting Date: 05/05/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 08/09/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: NAGEL CONSTRUCTION, 877-4096
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
DIVISION WILL BE CLOSED FOR FIVE DAYS DURING THIS PROJECT. DETOURS FOR THE DIVISION CLOSING:
NORTHBOUND: PEARL TO IONIA TO CRESCENT
SOUTHBOUND: NEWBERRY TO OTTAWA TO PEARL
WESTBOUND DETOUR: LAFAYETTE TO FULTON TO DIVISION

Southeast: Lake Dr. between Fulton St. and Diamond Ave.

May 6, 2008 — Lake Dr. will close for reconstruction between Fulton St. and Diamond Ave., scheduled to start Monday, May 12, until Labor Day, for complete reconstruction (and not a pothole too soon!).
    Posted detour will use Diamond and Fulton. No indication about whether Eastern Ave. will close. (I drive into work that way, so we'll have an update here, and you'll know when I'm late.) Eastern would have to detour at Cherry St.
Notification Date: 05/06/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: LAKE DRIVE
Where: FROM ABNEY TO FULTON
Starting Date: 05/12/2008 08: 00AM
Ending Date: 09/01/2008 05: 00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: DIRK, NAGEL CONSTRUCTION, 293-0964
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
WESTBOUND DETOUR: DIAMOND TO FULTON TO LAKE DRIVE
EASTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Southeast: Kalamazoo Ave. and Alger St.

May 6, 2008 — Intersection of Kalamazoo Ave. and Alger St. is closed until early July, for complete reconstruction.
    Posted detour for Kalamazoo is Eastern Ave., which tends to bog down with the load.
    Detour for Alger is Burton St., but many drivers tried 28th, which has extra-heavy load because it's the posted detour for the 32nd St. closing.
    It's part of the big rebuild on Kalamazoo, which will also close the intersection of Burton and Kalamazoo for a while. Don't expect to drive on Kalamazoo between Alger and Burton until Labor Day.

Notification Date: 04/30/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: KALAMAZOO AND ALGER
Where: INTERSECTION
Starting Date: 05/05/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 06/05/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: NAGEL CONSTRUCTION, 877-4096
Description: PHASE I OF STREET RECONSTRUCTION
NORTHBOUND DETOUR: 28TH STREET TO EASTERN TO BURTON TO KALAMAZOO
SOUTHBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED
EASTBOUND DETOUR: EASTERN TO BURTON TO PLYMOUTH
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

April 21, 2008 — Kalamazoo Ave. will be closed both ways between Burton and Alger Sts., starting in May, through October, for complete reconstruction.
    Watermain and storm drain, and some of the sewer line, will be replaced. Also, new sidewalks and street lights will be built. Kalamazoo will get a center turn lane, and northbound Kalamazoo will have a right-turn only lane at Burton. Southbound Kalamazoo will end up with a stretch of on-street parking.
    Intersection of Kalamazoo and Burton will close for two weeks, and Kalamazoo and Alger intersection will close for about 30 days.
    City engineer holds neighborhood information meetings at Hope Reformed Church and Burton and Kalamazoo.

Southeast: 32nd St. between Breton and Kalamazoo Aves.

May 5, 2008 — 32nd St. is closed both ways between Breton and Kalamazoo Aves., until early August, for a new watermain.
    Posted detour is north to (gack) 28th St. between Breton and Kalamazoo. To the south, 36th St. does not run between Breton and Kalamazoo, so your other choice would be 44th St.
    Project includes drilling to run the main under Plaster Creek. Should result in reconstruction of the intersection at Kalamazoo and 32nd. (Yay.)

Notification Date: 04/28/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: 32ND STREET
Where: FROM BRETON TO KALAMAZOO
Starting Date: 05/01/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 08/07/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: MARV, GEORGETOWN CONSTRUCTION, 292-4689
Description: WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT
EASTBOUND DETOUR: KALAMAZOO TO 28TH TO BURTON TO 32ND STREET
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Southeast: Jefferson Ave. between Franklin and Hall Sts.

May 1, 2008 — Jefferson Ave. will be closed both ways between Franklin and Hall Sts., starting Monday, May 12, until the end of June.
    It's part of the city's big project to separate storm drains from the sewers. There's a big one that runs down Highland St., a block north of Hall. This part of the project will replace the big one that runs below Highland St., between Division and Jefferson. When they're done, they'll start on the next block, from Highland to Madison, and you'd hope that Jefferson will be open.
    Posted detour for Jefferson will be Madison Ave.

Notification Date: 04/30/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: HIGHLAND
Where: FROM DIVISION TO MADISON
Starting Date: 05/12/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 06/28/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: DIVERSCO CONSTRUCTION CO., 890-9945
Description:
REVISED TO CHANGE PHASE I STARTING DATE
REVISED TO SEPARATE PROJECT INTO PHASES.
PHASE I OF CSO #9:
HIGHLAND WILL BE CLOSED FROM DIVISION TO JEFFERSON. THE INTERSECTION OF JEFFERSON AND HIGHLAND WILL BE CLOSED.
NORTHBOUND DETOUR: HALL TO MADISON TO FRANKLIN
SOUTHBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED
PHASE II CLOSING INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED IN JUNE 2008.

South side: Division Ave. south of Hall St.

May 6, 2008 — Northbound Division Ave. will be closed between Burton and Hall Sts., starting Monday, May 12, until late July, to replace sewers.
    Northbound side will be torn-up from Home St., and barricaded at Cottage Grove, just south of the train tracks. Posted detour will be west on Cottage Grove to Buchanan Ave.
    Also, Home St. will be closed on the east side of Division.

Notification Date: 05/06/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: NORTHBOUND DIVISION
Where: FROM HOME TO HALL
Starting Date: 05/12/2008 08: 00AM
Ending Date: 07/21/2008 05: 00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: DIRK, NAGEL CONSTRUCTION, 293-0964
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION FOR CSO #11, PHASE 1
NORTHBOUND DETOUR: COTTAGE GROVE TO BUCHANAN TO HALL TO DIVISION
SOUTHBOUND DIVISION WILL REMAIN OPEN

Notification Date: 05/06/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: HOME
Where: FROM DIVISION TO VILAS
Starting Date: 05/12/2008 08: 00AM
Ending Date: 07/18/2008 05: 00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: DIRK, NAGEL CONSTRUCTION, 293-0964
Description: CSO #11

Northeast: College Ave. north of the Ford (I-196)

April 28, 2008 — College Ave. will be closed between the Ford (I-196) and Leonard St., from Thursday, May 8, to late August, to replace the bridge over the train line by Highland Park.
    Posted detour will be Diamond Ave. Project budget is more than $2.5 million, but there are incentives to finish early. Contractor earns a bonus of $1,500 a day for each day it's open before the projected "open to traffic" date of August 22, for up to 15 days (or $22,500).

North side: Ann St. bridge over Grand River

April 11, 2008 — Ann St. bridge over the Grand River, between Monroe and US-131, will be rehabilitated, starting Tuesday, April 22, through the end of July.
    City plans to keep a lane open on both sides the whole time, but it'll be tight.
    They'll do the eastbound lanes first, then the westbound lanes, then finish the center.

Notification Date: 04/16/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: ANN STREET BRIDGE
Where: FROM US 131 TO MONROE
Starting Date: 04/22/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 07/31/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: JOHN VALLEY, SLAGTER & SONS CONSTRUCTION, 437-4841
Description: ANN STREET BRIDGE WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FOR RECONSTRUCTION.

Northeast: Maryland Ave. between Michigan and Leonard Sts.

April 21, 2008 — Maryland Ave. bridge over the Ford (I-196) is closed until mid-May, for bridge deck repairs. Posted detour between Michigan and Leonard Sts. will be Plymouth Ave., or you could try Fuller Ave. or the Beltline.

Southeast: 44th St. between Eastern and Kalamazoo Aves.

April 24, 2008 — 44th St. is down to one lane both ways between Eastern and Kalamazoo Aves., for reconstruction, through early June.
    Westbound side is being torn up first, so everybody crams onto the eastbound side. This morning it backed-up big-time, both ways. The lane shifts start way ahead of the intersections. First few rush hours, both sides backed-up a mile.
Notification Date: 04/16/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: 44TH STREET
Where: FROM EASTERN TO KALAMAZOO
Starting Date: 04/23/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 06/10/2008 01:00AM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: STEVE STRASSER, C&D HUGHES, 517-645-0111
Description: 44TH STREET WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION.

South side: 28th St. reconstruction between US-131 and Division Ave.

May 1, 2008 — 28th St. (M-11) is down to one lane both ways between US-131 and Division Ave., with a center turn lane, for reconstruction, through September.
    Also, Buchanan Ave. and Division Ave. are both down to one lane both ways at 28th, and some turns are blocked at both intersections.
    Think about taking Burton St., 32nd St. or 36th St.


South side: Hall St. bridge over US-131

Hall St. is CLOSED between Buchanan Ave. and US-131, until late July, to rebuild the bridge deck over the train line. Posted detour is Franklin St., using Grandville Ave. and Division Ave. Expect delays during rush hours.

Notification Date: 03/27/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: HALL STREET BRIDGE
Where: FROM US 131 TO STEELE
Starting Date: 04/01/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 07/21/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: JOHN VALLEY, SLAGTER & SONS CONSTRUCTION CO., 437-4841
Description: RECONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE DECK
EASTBOUND DETOUR: GRANDVILLE TO FRANKLIN TO DIVISION
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Near southeast side: Wealthy St. between Division and Jefferson Aves.

April 21, 2008  — Wealthy St. is CLOSED between Division and Jefferson Aves., until late September. Posted detour is Franklin St.
    In late May or early June, work-zone will extend east to just short of Madison Ave., and close the intersections at Jefferson and Lafayette.
    This is a $4.9-million job, part of a bigger project to replace our oldest watermains. Complete reconstruction will build roundabouts (traffic circles) at the intersections of Wealthy and Jefferson, and Wealthy and Lafayette.
    Division and Madison should see NO lane closings from this work, but there will be other jobs this year that will affect Division.
    Because this is so close to St. Marys hospital, there will be lots of temporary H signs, directing traffic down Cherry St. and Franklin St. to the emergency room.
    City engineer will hold progress meetings every other Tuesday, April 8 through September 23, 9 a.m., in the Wege Center at St. Mary’s, 300 Jefferson Ave. SE.

Southeast: Westbound Franklin St. between Madison and Division Aves.

April 23, 2008 — Westbound Franklin St. will close for resurfacing between Prospect and Lafayette Aves., west of of Madison, next week from Monday to Wednesday, April 28-30. Posted detour will be Hall St.

Notification Date: 04/23/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: WESTBOUND FRANKLIN STREET
Where: FROM PROSPECT TO LAFAYETTE
Starting Date: 04/28/2008 09:00AM
Ending Date: 04/30/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: JEFF HOFFMAN, GEORGETOWN CONSTRUCTION, 890-9945
Description: STREET RESURFACING
WESTBOUND DETOUR: MADISON TO HALL TO LAFAYETTE TO FRANKLIN


Northeast: Knapp St. between Dean Lake Ave. and Ball Ave.

April 21, 2008 — Knapp St. is CLOSED between Dean Lake Ave. and Ball Ave., until the end of September. Posted detour — north to Aberdeen St., through May.
    After Memorial Day, work-zone will stretch east: intersection of Knapp and Dean Lake will close until the end of September, and detour will extend to Leffingwell.
    Complete reconstruction will build a whole new street, watermain, storm drain and sewer main, and plant 175 new trees.

West Side: Turner Ave. from Leonard St. to Fourth St.

April 23, 2008 — City's about to rebuild Turner Ave. from Leonard St. to Fourth St., just north of the Ford (I-196), starting Monday, April 28, through June. Turner, which runs one way southbound, will stay open, but it'll be tight.

Notification Date: 04/23/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: TURNER
Where: FROM LEONARD TO FOURTH
Starting Date: 04/28/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 06/27/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: JEFF HURLEY, RIVERTOWN, 616-896-6488
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
TURNER WILL REMAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIC


Northwest: Leonard St. between Oakleigh and Collindale Aves.

April 23, 2008 — Leonard St. is being rebuilt between Oakleigh and Collindale Aves., until mid-July.
    Original game plan was to keep one side open — westbound open for the first half, until about Memorial Day, then eastbound open for the second half. But things change, and nobody has a crystal ball, so what you get is what you get. At least that's what we get from the city's notifications.
    Posted detour is Lake Michigan Dr., using Collindale and Covell (a long block east of Oakleigh).

Notification Date: 04/15/2008 (received April 23, 2008)
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: LEONARD STREET
Where: FROM OAKLEIGH TO CARPENTER
Starting Date: 04/21/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 05/16/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: MARK, DIVERSCO, 878-5657
Description: UPDATED TO EXTEND PROJECT END DATE
LEONARD WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
EASTBOUND DETOUR: COLLINDALE TO LAKE MICHIGAN DRIVE TO COVELL TO LEONARD
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED
THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MID JULY WITH EASTBOUND LEONARD CLOSED THE FIRST HALF AND WESTBOUND CLOSED THE SECOND HALF.

Notification Date: 04/15/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: LEONARD STREET
Where: FROM OAKLEIGH TO CARPENTER
Starting Date: 04/21/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 04/25/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: MARK, DIVERSCO, 878-5657
Description: LEONARD WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
EASTBOUND DETOUR: COLLINDALE TO LAKE MICHIGAN DRIVE TO COVELL TO LEONARD
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED
THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MID JULY WITH EASTBOUND LEONARD CLOSED THE FIRST HALF AND WESTBOUND CLOSED THE SECOND HALF.

Notification Date: 03/26/2008 REVISED TO CORRECT DETOUR INFORMATION
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: LEONARD STREET
Where: FROM OAKLEIGH TO CARPENTER
Starting Date: 03/31/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 07/15/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: MARK, DIVERSCO, 878-5657
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
FIRST HALF OF PROJECT: WESTBOUND LEONARD WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED, EASTBOUND LEONARD WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE.
SECOND HALF OF PROJECT: EASTBOUND LEONARD WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND WESTBOUND LEONARD WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE.
WESTBOUND DETOUR: COVELL TO LAKE MICHIGAN DRIVE TO COLLINDALE TO LEONARD
EASTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Selected Notifications from the City of Grand Rapids

Northwest

Notification Date: 05/01/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: ALPINE
Where: AT RICHMOND
Starting Date: 05/05/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 05/16/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: AIRPORT LIGHTING, 231-797-5640
Description: UNDERGROUND UTILITY WORK
TWO WAY TRAFFIC WILL BE MAINTAINED
NO LEFT TURNS ON ALPINE

South side

Notification Date: 05/06/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: BUCHANAN
Where: FROM CORINNE TO DICKINSON
Starting Date: 05/13/2008 08: 00AM
Ending Date: 05/13/2008 05: 00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: LAURA ROY, WATER DEPT., 456-4096
Description: WATER MAIN REPAIR
NORTHBOUND DETOUR: GRIGGS TO DIVISION TO COTTAGE GROVE TO BUCHANAN
SOUTHBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Around downtown

Notification Date: 05/06/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: OAKES
Where: FROM COMMERCE TO DIVISION
Starting Date: 05/12/2008 08: 00AM
Ending Date: 06/30/2008 05: 00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: MIKE MEYER, MEYER EXCAVATING, 437-1378
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
EASTBOUND DETOUR: COMMERCE TO FULTON TO DIVISION TO OAKES
WESTBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

Notification Date: 05/01/2008
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: SOUTHBOUND MONROE
Where: FROM CAMPAU TO FULTON
Starting Date: 05/05/2008 10:00AM
Ending Date: 05/05/2008 04:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: GEOTECH, 299-3421
Description: SOUTHBOUND FULTON WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE FOR UNDERGROUND CABLE INSTALLATION

(I think they mean "southbound Monroe")

Notification Date: 04/01/2008 (April 11, 2008 REVISED END DATE) (April 21, 2008 REVISED END DATE)
Closure Type: Partial Closure
Street Closed: DIVISION
Where: FROM GOODRICH TO WEALTHY
Starting Date: 04/07/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 04/18/2008 05:00PM / 05/02/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: JON OEVERMAN, TRAFFIC SAFETY DEPT., 456-3846
Description: DIVISION WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FOR WATER MAIN AND UNDERGROUND UTILITY WORK.

Notification Date: 03/27/2008
Closure Type: Full Closure
Street Closed: IONIA
Where: FROM PLEASANT TO BUCKLEY
Starting Date: 03/31/2008 08:00AM
Ending Date: 07/01/2008 05:00PM
Originating dept: Traffic Safety - 456-3066
Contact: DYKEMA EXCAVATORS, 363-6895
Description: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
NORTHBOUND DETOUR: FRANKLIN TO DIVISION TO LOGAN
SOUTHBOUND DETOUR: REVERSED

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