Road Commission of Kalamazoo County - Lake Street Improvements

Important Information

Lake Street, Roadway and Utility Improvements project limits are Lake Street from Shakespeare Ave. at the West to Olmstead Ave. at the East end.

The project will involve removing existing HMA road, upgrading underground utilities including sanitary sewer, water main, and storm sewer. Road reconstruction including concrete curb/gutter, sidewalks, ADA ramps, and restoration.

Project will involve work both East and West of the I-94 business loop with temporary closure of the Lake Street/BL intersection.

This project will be constructed in phases. Schedule is tentative.

 

Phase A1: Lake Street from Shakespeare Ave to BL. This section will be completed first which a scheduled completion date of May 25, 2023. MAP

 

Phase B: Lake Street from BL to Lamont Ave. This section will begin following Phase A1 and is scheduled to be completed July 15, 2023. MAP

 

Phase A2: BL intersection. This section will begin following Phase B and is scheduled to begin July 24 and completed by Aug. 1, 2023. MAP

 

Phase C: Lake Street from Lemont Ave. to Roy Ave. This section will begin following Phase B and is scheduled to be completed Oct. 1, 2023. MAP

 

Phase D: Lake Street from Roy Ave. to Olmstead Ave. This section will begin following Phase C and is scheduled to be completed Nov. 20, 2023. MAP


 

Prein&Newhof will have personnel in the field on behalf of Kalamazoo County Road Commission:

Mike Schwartz, PE
Project Engineer
(269) 372-1158 ext. 1308

Zac Culbert, PE
On-site Contact
(269) 312-1799

 


 

Contractor

Milbocker and Sons Inc.

Office: (269) 673-2195

Emergency Contact:

Tim Wilson

(269) 350-1569

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Work Completed this week (11/06 –11/10):

  • Finished raising manholes/valve boxes to finish grade from BL to Olmstead.
  • Continued restoration between BL and Olmstead.
  • Installed permanent signage between BL and Olmstead.

 

Work next week (11/13 – 11/17):

  • Install pavement markings between BL and Olmstead.
  • Continue restoration between BL and Olmstead.

Earlier this week, the crew finished paving driveways.

Yesterday, the paving crew started arriving on Lake Street to begin paving the road, starting at the BL. They finished paving top course on the intersections and eastbound lane from BL to Olmstead.

Today, the plan is to continue paving top course in the center turn and westbound lanes) beginning in the morning, weather dependent.

The contractor plans on paving top course of Lake Street from the BL to Olmstead tomorrow, Tuesday 10/31 and Wednesday 11/1.

This section of Lake Street will remain open to traffic and accessible to all roads including Lamont/Healy.

Contractor will have people stationed at the intersections directing traffic during paving operations. The plan is to start at the West end (BL) at around 7:30 am Tuesday morning, paving the South lane first.

Please reach out if anyone has any issues with access. Zac Culbert will be onsite during all paving operations and can be reached by phone or email.

Work Completed this week (9/18 –9/22):

  • Continued storm sewer install between Bronson and Olmstead Rd.
  • Completed testing of installed water main, all tests passed.
  • Continued water service install between Surprise and Olmstead Rd.
  • Continued building road between Melrose and Roy Ave.

 

Work next week (9/25 – 9/29):

  • Complete water main tie in at Olmstead.
  • Complete storm sewer install between Surprise and Bronson Ave.
  • Complete sanitary sewer lateral connection at Bronson Ave.
  • Continue building road between Melrose and Olmstead.

 

Work Completed this week (9/11 –9/15):

  • Installed water main from Surprise to Olmstead.
  • Removed HMA pavement between Bronson and Olmstead.
  • Pressure testing installed water main between Surprise and Olmstead.
  • Prepped for sidewalk between BL and Melrose Ave.

 

Work next week (9/18 – 9/22):

  • Perform bacti testing on installed water main.
  • Pour sidewalk/driveways between BL and Melrose Ave.
  • Restoration between BL and Melrose Ave.
  • Access to Lake Street off Olmstead is closed, emergency vehicles only, all traffic to access Lake Street off BL.

Work Completed this week (9/4 –9/8):

  • Installed storm sewer between Surprise and Roy Ave.
  • Poured curb between Lamont and Melrose Ave.
  • Paved (base/leveling) between Lamont and Melrose Ave.

 

Work next week (9/11 – 9/15):

  • Continue storm sewer install between Roy and Surprise Ave.
  • Remove pavement between Bronson and Olmstead.
  • Continue Water main install between Surprise and Olmstead.

Work Completed this week (7/31 –8/04):

  • Paved Lake Street from BL to Lamont (base and leveling, top course will wait until they are able to pave all the way to Olmstead).
  • Opened traffic from Lamont to BL.
  • Continued installing water services East of Lamont.
  • Began installing storm sewer between Lamont and Willis Ave.

 

Work next week (8/07 – 8/11):

  • Continue work on water services between Lamont and Willis Ave.
  • Continue work on storm sewer between Lamont and Willis Ave.
  • Begin building road between Lamont and Willis Ave.

The I-94 BL was reopened to traffic on 6/16. Access to Lake Street off the BL is still closed. Curb/gutter placement from Schuster to BL is planned for the week of the 26th. Shortly after that the road will be paved and opened to traffic.

Construction progress is ahead of schedule as work in Phase C has begun this week with Lake Street road removals between Lamont and Bronson Ave. Unground work on Phase C is planned to start the week of the 26th.

The total project completion date has been moved up from Dec. 1st to Nov. 10th due to the amount of work already completed. Road building on the East side of the BL will move along much quicker than the West side due to favorable existing soil conditions. Expect to see a more aggressive schedule going forward.

Upcoming Construction Milestones:

  • Paving of the road from BL to Lamont is tentatively scheduled for mid-July.
  • Paving of the road from Lamont to Roy Ave is tentatively scheduled for mid-Aug.
  • Paving of the road from Roy Ave to Olmstead is tentatively scheduled for mid to late Oct.

Curb and gutter installed and asphalt placed from West project limits to Schuster Ave. Access to Schuster Ave will now be from the West off Shakespeare. Access to Lake Street West of the BL has been closed for construction. Lake Street is now closed in both directions (E/W) from the I-94 BL.

Sanitary sewer install completed from BL to Lamont Ave. Completed water service connections to the new water main from the BL to Lamont Ave. Underground utility work has begun between Schuster and the BL.

The I-94 BL will be closing to traffic from King Hwy to Olmstead starting on June 12th. Water main install across the BL is anticipated to take a week. Once testing is complete and the road rebuilt the BL will be opened back up to traffic no later then the 22nd.

Began installing water main and sanitary sewer East of the I-94 BL. Access to Lake Street East of BL is closed until further notice. Existing water services will be tied over to the new water main once installation and testing has been completed. Properties to be effected by water main shut downs will be notified in writing within 48 hrs of said shutdown.

Access to Healy Street is possible from Olmstead Road from now until the road from BL to Healy is paved. Access to the Expo Center will be off Olmstead Road for the remainder of the project.

Bore/Jack in front of Life Cycle to be completed, no other work in this area (East of Surprise Ave.) will be completed at this time.