City of Adrian and Lenawee Now - S. Main Street Pedestrian Tunnel under M-52

Construction resumed this week on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel under M-52, South Main Street. Here is the latest update.

Progress Report

• Earthwork has begun on the east side of M-52 with excavation for the new path to the tunnel
• Steel sheets were delivered to the site, and preparations were made for installation before the installation of the west side wingwall footings and foundations

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Continued earthwork on the east side of the tunnel
• Sheet piling will be installed on the west side
• Foundations will be poured for the wingwalls of the tunnel
• Underdrains will be installed
• Additional preparations will be made for installing the tunnel sections in a few weeks

Recent construction site photos:

The wet spring put a damper on the construction of the tunnel. However, work will resume next week, Monday, May 11, 2026.

Progress Report

• No progress has been made for the last 2-3 weeks due to the wet conditions.

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Earthwork will take place on the east side of the tunnel with topsoil stripping and excavation in preparation for the tunnel and walls on the east side of the road
• Sheet piling will be installed around the trench where the tunnel sections will be set safely for the crews
• Foundations will be poured for the wingwalls of the tunnel
• Underdrains will be installed
• Additional preparations will be made for installing the tunnel sections in a few weeks

Traffic shift still in place:

Like the rest of Michigan, this spring’s rain and weather have made an impact on our Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel. The site was just too wet to install sections of the tunnel this week.

Progress Report

• The water main is relocated and in service around the new tunnel
• Drainage system is installed up to the base of the tunnel
• Communication lines have been spliced and are prepared for relocation

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Sheet piling will be installed around the trench where the tunnel sections will be set safely for the crews
• Foundations will be poured for the wingwalls of the tunnel
• Underdrains will be installed
• Additional preparations will be made for installing the tunnel sections in a few weeks

Traffic shift in place:

Looking south where the tunnel will be installed under the road:

Looking east at the future tunnel site under M-52/South Main Street:

Progress on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel is moving forward and next week will see the first sections of the tunnel getting set.

Progress Report

• Relocated water main has been tested for connection to the existing system
• The west half of the road pavement of South Main Street/M-52 was removed
• Excavation continues for the tunnel and west walls
• Utility relocation coordination continues – splicing of communication lines in preparation of relocation is ongoing
• Additional construction materials and pipe were delivered to the site, including forms for the west walls

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Water main tie-ins are planned for Monday, April 13, 2026. Affected customers have been or will be notified between Merrick and Crystal Spring. Water should only be off for a couple of hours on Monday before it is restored in the afternoon.
• Communication cable splicing will continue for the relocation of phone lines on the east side of M-52
• The first sections of the precast tunnel are tentatively scheduled to be set on Tuesday, April 14, 2026!

Traffic shift in place:

Photo from the site this week from Mannik & Smith Group:

Progress on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel will certainly be picking up steam after Spring Break and the Easter Holiday.

Progress Report

• Drainage system is installed up to the base of the tunnel
• Traffic shift and lane reductions were put in place this week
• The relocated water main pipe has been installed and is in the testing phase before connecting it to the system
• Excavation has begun for the tunnel and walls
• Utility relocation coordination continues – splicing of communication lines in preparation of relocation is ongoing
• Additional construction materials and pipe were delivered to the site

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Water main relocation should be completed next week – Disruptions to drinking water may occur at the end of the week for tie-ins to the existing system. This will affect residents for a few hours during the day on M-52 between Crystal Spring Avenue and Merrick Street.
• Communication cable splicing will continue for the relocation of phone lines on the east side of M-52
• The first section of the precast tunnel could be delivered and installed late next week!

Traffic shift in place:

Photos from the site this week from Mannik & Smith Group:

Progress may seem slow now, but the pedestrian tunnel construction in Adrian is picking up momentum. The project remains on schedule.

Progress Report

• Drainage installation continued up to the base of the tunnel with pipe and new structures installed
• Water main relocation began
• Utility relocation coordination continues
• Additional construction materials and pipe were delivered to the site

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Water main relocation should be completed next week – Disruptions to drinking water may occur at the end of the week for tie-ins to the existing system. This will affect residents for a few hours during the day on M-52 between Crystal Spring Avenue and Merrick Street.
• Traffic shifts will take place next week – reminder with map shown again – tentatively planned for March 31, 2026
• Traffic will be impacted with lane shifts on M-52
  • Traffic at the tunnel location will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with all traffic getting shifted to the current northbound lanes.  This will only be between the Railroad crossing and Cross Street. M-52 will remain open to all traffic, just reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted to the east side of the road.
• Communication cable splicing will begin in preparation for the relocation of phone lines on the east side of M-52
• The first section of the precast tunnel will be delivered and installed around the first full week of April

Photo from the site this week from Mannik & Smith Group:

Construction on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel had some slow, but steady and safe progress this week. The project remains on schedule.

Progress Report

• Drainage pipe installation continued from the outlet up towards the base of the tunnel
• Coordination with other utilities for any potential conflicts with construction
• More materials delivered to the site

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Complete storm sewer installation up to the tunnel, including backfilling over the new storm sewer
• Water main relocation will begin later in the week of March 23
• Traffic shifts that we warned about last week will likely take place later next week – reminder with map shown again – tentatively planned for March 25, 2026
• Traffic will be impacted with lane shifts on M-52
  • Traffic at the tunnel location will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with all traffic getting shifted to the current northbound lanes.  This will only be between the Railroad crossing and Cross Street. M-52 will remain open to all traffic, just reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted to the east side of the road.
• Communication cable splicing will begin in preparation for the relocation of phone lines on the east side of M-52
• The first section of the precast tunnel will be delivered and installed around the first week of April

Traffic shift to occur later next week:

Construction on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel had some slow progress this week due to the Michigan March weather. However, the project does remain on schedule.

Progress Report

• Drainage pipe installed from the outlet installed last week up towards the base of the tunnel
• Coordination with other utilities for any potential conflicts with construction

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• Continue storm sewer installation up to the tunnel, including backfilling over the new storm sewer
• Water main relocation will begin later in the week of March 16
• Traffic shifts that we warned about last week will likely take place later next week – reminder with map shown again
• Traffic will be impacted with lane shifts on M-52
  • Traffic at the tunnel location will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with all traffic getting shifted to the current northbound lanes.  This will only be between the Railroad crossing and Cross Street. M-52 will remain open to all traffic, just reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted to the east side of the road.
• The first section of the precast tunnel will be delivered and installed

Traffic shift to occur later next week:

A photo from Mannik & Smith Group of the progress from this past week:

Construction continued on the Adrian Pedestrian Tunnel this past week. As the weather slowly improves, construction progress will begin to speed up over the next month. The project remains on schedule.

Progress Report

• Mass excavation continues on the west side of M-52 with soil removal and preparation for the new tunnel and storm drainage
• Layout and staking of the proposed drainage system took place

Upcoming Work Planned for Next Few Weeks:

• New drain outlet and pipe installation will begin on Monday
• Preparation for water main relocation
• No lanes of traffic on M-52 are anticipated to be affected until 2^nd week of March

Some photos from Mannik & Smith Group of the progress from this past week: