FeedsSome relief, more closures greet motorists
Are we there yet?
One of the busiest construction seasons ever is in full swing, with oft-used Canton Township thoroughfares partially or completely closed in places.
The latest spot to avoid is Warren Road at Sheldon, where crews are expected to close the intersection for 17 days starting Monday.
Warren is being widened from three lanes to five between Canton Center and Morton Taylor roads by Wayne County. The $2.9 million project should wrap up in late September.
The south side of Warren is due to be paved starting Aug. 3. Officials have asked motorists to follow all posted detours.
The closure was originally slated to begin today, but was pushed back, said Wayne County engineer Craig Wobrock.
“The contractor is tied up on another project and we had delays on the Warren job,” he said. A 8-inch gas main had to be relocated, which contributed to the hold-up, as well.
When the intersection reopens, traffic—which has been reduced to one lane near the intersection—will shift to the newly paved lanes as work begins on the north side of the road.
Another east-west route is impacted by construction: the Michigan Department of Transportation is replacing a bridge that carries Ford Road over the Fellows Creek, just east of Canton Center Road.
“That’s a long, drawn out project,” said Todd Zilincik, engineer for Canton Township. The work has narrowed Ford to one lane in each direction and closed one driveway in front of Meijer. Eastbound traffic on Ford is prohibited from turning left into businesses in the area such as Taco Bell. Work is still very much in the early stages: the project won’t be done until November.
There is some relief: Cherry Hill is moving a bit more freely as work finishes on the intersection at Sheldon Road. The crossroads were widened to accommodate left turn lanes in all directions, as well as exclusive right turn lanes and new signal masts.
Work a little further up the road isn’t too far behind. The intersection of Sheldon and Saltz is being widened, too—a project due to finish in middle to late August.
Construction is taking place off the roadways, as well: the 2006 Sidewalk Repair Program began Monday, with the township replacing dangerous sections in the Forest Trails subdivision.
