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

Progress Report

• Masons continued working on the west parapet wall, and a nice architectural feature was added above the west side of the tunnel
• Frontier Communications had a large team working to reinforce their infrastructure over the tunnel
• Structural crews continued to work on the footings for the retaining walls on the east side of the tunnel approaches

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Next Week: Utility restoration over the tunnel for communication and gas lines should be completed, and road restoration may begin with gravel road base installation. Continue working on the footings for the east side retaining walls. Continue masonry on the west walls.
• Week of November 16: Road building of the east half of M-52, including concrete curb and gutter, road gravel base, and asphalt. Weather permitting, the east half of the road should be completed before Thanksgiving. Pouring concrete retaining walls. Begin pouring the path on the west side of M-52 towards the tunnel. Complete the masonry on the west walls; begin working on the east wall masonry.
• End of November/December: Complete pouring the concrete retaining walls on the east side and begin installing the modular block walls on the east side.
• Before Christmas: Pour path on east side, cleanup of site, lighting, furniture, interior tunnel work, and electrical work
• Spring 2027: Plantings and final restoration.

Recent photos from the construction site:

Progress Report

• Masons began adding stone to the west parapet wall
• Crews worked to complete the modular block walls on the west side
• Structural crews completed pouring the east headwall, formed the east parapet wall, and worked on excavation and footings for the east side retaining walls.
• Backfilling over the tunnel began to prepare for utility relocation over the tunnel on the east side

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Next Week: Utility restoration over the tunnel for communication and gas lines. Continue working on the tunnel walls.
• Week of November 9: Complete utility relocation and restoration and build the road on the east side. Continue working on retaining walls and west side restoration.
• Mid-November: Concrete curb and gutter, asphalt, and then reopen all lanes of M-52; continue working on east side retaining walls
• End of November/December: Pour concrete for sidewalk ramps and path down to tunnel on the east side, complete east side retaining walls
• Before Christmas: Pour path on east side, cleanup of site, lighting, furniture, interior tunnel work, and electrical work
• Spring 2027: Plantings and final restoration.

Recent photos from Mannik-Smith Group:

Progress Report

• Crews shaped the west side of the tunnel in preparation of restoration and the new path to be poured as well as the connecting path to M-52, South Main Street
• The west block walls are being finished
• The east side headwall had steel installed, was formed, and is being poured today

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Next Week: Complete the headwall over the tunnel, begin backfilling for fiber and gas utilities to be restored over the tunnel. Work on east side concrete poured walls. Complete the west side block walls.
• Week of November 2: Utility restoration over the tunnel begins; continue working on tunnel walls, complete restoration on the west side with topsoil, seed, and concrete pathways
• Mid-November: Re-open all lanes of M-52, continue working on east side retaining walls
• End of November/December: Pour concrete for sidewalk ramps and path down to tunnel on the east side, complete east side retaining walls
• Before Christmas: Pour path on east side, cleanup of site, lighting, furniture, interior tunnel work, and electrical work
• Spring 2027: Plantings and final restoration.

Progress Report

• Crews formed and poured the foundations for the east side headwalls next to the tunnel
• The last 2 sections of the tunnel were installed
• Reinforcing steel for the walls and forming for the new headwalls on the east side took place

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Next Week: Form and pour headwalls of the tunnel next to the tunnel and begin backfilling for utilities
• Week of October 26: Continue pouring walls on the east side away from the tunnel and begin utility relocation over the tunnel. Masonry on walls will begin.
• Early November: Complete utility relocations and begin rebuilding the roadway over the tunnel; continue working on retaining walls away from the tunnel. Begin pouring concrete path sections down to the tunnel on the west side, complete restoration on the west side.
• Mid-November: Re-open all lanes of M-52, complete retaining walls, begin grading for west side pathway to the tunnel
• Before Thanksgiving: Pour concrete for sidewalk ramps and path down to tunnel on the east side
• Early December: Final cleanup of site, lighting, furniture, interior tunnel work, and electrical work
• Spring 2027: Plantings and final restoration.

Recent construction photo from the site by Mannik-Smith Group:

Progress Report

• Deepest excavation on the west side took place and reinforced concrete footings have been started, with the first pours and forming for the next round of concrete
• Additional site clean up on the west side took place

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Next week – Complete wall foundations and set final 2 sections of precast tunnel
• Week of October 19: Pour head walls of the tunnel next to the tunnel and begin backfilling for utilities
• Week of October 26: Continue pouring walls on the east side away from the tunnel and begin utility relocation over the tunnel. Masonry on walls will begin.
• Early November: Complete utility relocations and begin rebuilding the roadway over the tunnel, continue working on retaining walls away from the tunnel. Begin pouring concrete path sections down to the tunnel on the west side, complete restoration on the west side.
• Mid November: Re-open all lanes of M-52, complete retaining walls, begin grading for west side pathway to the tunnel
• Before Thanksgiving: Pour concrete for sidewalk ramps and path down to tunnel on the east side
• Early December: Final cleanup of site, lighting, furniture, interior tunnel work and electrical work
• Spring 2027: Plantings and final restoration.

Recent construction photo from the site:

October is here and our schedule has slipped a bit due to scheduling and weather.  Here is a brief update on the Adrian Tunnel project:

Progress Report

• Additional sheeting has been installed on the east side prior to additional excavation for wall construction
• Additional grading and restoration efforts took place to get the site cleaned up on the west side

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Excavation for wall footings
• Installation of east wall footings
• Installation of the last 2 sections of tunnel
• Construction of the east poured-in-place concrete walls
• Backfilling and M-52 Road Restoration
• Completion of the modular block walls on the west side, including fencing
• Installation of modular block walls on the east side
• Masonry on the west parapet wall and around the west tunnel face

Recent construction photo from the site:

Progress Report

• Crews completed repairs to the relocated water main
• Grading and restoration efforts took place to get the site cleaned up on the west side

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next 4-6 Weeks:

• Beginning Monday, September 28, 2026, additional sheeting will be installed on the east side to make the site safer for deep foundation and wall construction
• Installation of east wall footings
• Installation of the last 2 sections of tunnel
• Construction of the east poured-in-place concrete walls
• Backfilling and M-52 Road Restoration
• Completion of the modular block walls on the west side, including fencing
• Installation of modular block walls on the east side
• Masonry on the west parapet wall and around the west tunnel face

Recent construction photo from the site:

Progress Report

• Crews completed additional underdrain for the tunnel on the east side of the tunnel
• Shoring, bracing, excavation, and preparation was done for the east side footings to be installed

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next Few Weeks:

• Installation of east wall footings
• Construction of the east poured-in-place concrete walls
• Completion of the modular block walls on the west side
• Masonry on the west parapet wall and around the west tunnel face
• Grading and restoration on the west side

Recent construction photo from the site:

Progress Report

• Crews finished installing the storm drains on the east side of the tunnel
• Crews excavated and installed additional underdrain and began excavation for the east wall foundations

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next Few Weeks:

• Shoring and bracing of the site for wall construction
• Installation of east wall footings
• Construction of the east poured-in-place concrete walls
• Completion of the modular block walls on the west side
• Masonry on the west parapet wall and around the west tunnel face
• Grading and restoration on the west side

Progress Report

• The east end of the tunnel was excavated, and underdrain was installed. 2 more precast base sections of the tunnel were installed along with 2 more precast tunnel arch sections. 9 of the 11 sections of tunnel have now been installed. The last 2 sections will be installed after the wall footings are constructed.

Upcoming Work Planned for the Next Few Weeks:

• Excavation for completion of the storm and underdrain system
• Excavation for wall footings and forming for wall footings on the east side
• Construction of the east poured-in-place concrete walls
• Completion of the modular block walls on the west side
• Masonry on the west parapet wall and around the west tunnel face
• Grading on the west side

Recent construction photos of the site from Mannik-Smith: