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City of Whitehall - Mears Avenue: Gibbs Street to Zellar Road

Important Information

This project consists of infrastructure improvements to Mears Avenue from Gibbs Street to Zellar Road.

From July through November, Mears Avenue from Benston to Zellar will be fully reconstructed with new water main, water services, new storm drainage pipes and structures, new concrete curb and gutter, and new asphalt pavement. Some repairs to sanitary sewers will also be made.

During October and through November, Mears Avenue from Gibbs to Benston will be under construction to install sidewalk ramps and complete work on road repaving.

The posted detour will be White Lake Drive to Warner to Benston to Division to Gibbs. Beginning July 24, the road will be closed to thru traffic, south of Benston and north of White Lake Drive. Access will be maintained for residents living between these areas.

This project is being funded by MDOT and local City drinking water rates along with City infrastructure money.

This project will begin on July 24, 2023. It is scheduled to be completed in early November of 2023.

 

 

Contact Information

Project Manager:
Dan Sorek, PE – Prein&Newhof
(616) 218-2940
dsorek@preinnewhof.com

Onsite Construction Observer:
Tom Eilers – Prein&Newhof
(231) 578-7986

Contractor for the City:
McCormick Sand of Twin Lake, MI

Project Manager:
David Vander Molen
(231) 286-8586

Field Superintendent:
Rob Murphy
(231) 740-8894

24-Hour Emergency Contact:
Jesse McCormick
(231) 206-6229

September 18, 2023

Work Completed this Past Week

  • The final water main connection was made at Benston
  • The last pieces of the storm drainage system were completed
  • This completed all underground construction on Mears
  • Road rebuilding process began with cutting the grade to the necessary depth for the proper thickness of road base gravel to be delivered, placed, spread and compacted.

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 18, 2023

  • Finish placing road base gravel and grading for the road
  • Prepare for concrete curb and gutter on Mears south of Benston
  • Finish sidewalk and concrete ramps north of Benston
  • Internally inspect the new storm drainage system

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 25, 2023

  • New concrete curb and gutter on Mears south of Benston is tentatively scheduled for Monday, September 25, 2023 (weather dependent)
  • This will mean access to driveways will be blocked to allow the concrete to cure for approximately 3 days after the concrete work is done.
  • Begin preparation for first course of asphalt
  • Pour concrete sidewalks, driveways and other restoration items.

 

Crews grading before placing the road base gravel
Compacting the subbase under the road gravel to ensure a solid foundation to build a new road cross section
September 12, 2023

Work Completed this Past Week

  • The new water main was connected to the existing water main system at Pinecrest, Tulgeywood and Sunset
  • Additional storm drains were installed
  • Finished installing water service lines to the new water main

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 11, 2023

  • Finish final water main connection at the north end at Benston on Monday (weather dependent)
  • Finish storm drainage system (which should complete the underground work)
  • Begin rebuilding the road with road gravel
  • Possibly finish any concrete work north of Benston

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 18, 2023

  • Continue rebuilding road with grading and delivery of road base gravel.
  • Prepare for installation of concrete curb and gutter and driveway approaches
Installing new drainage structures
Compacting the soil around the pipe excavations so the road doesn’t settle in the future:
September 1, 2023

Work Completed this Past Week

  • The new water main was connected to the existing water main system at the south end of Mears and at Country Club Road
  • Storm drainage system mainline system was completed
  • Several water service lines were replaced throughout the project between the main and the home
  • If your water service is already copper or plastic, it will be reconnected to the new water main and not replaced

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 4, 2023 (Labor Day)

  • No work on Monday, September 4, 2023
  • Complete remaining water service replacements
  • Water main connection at Pinecrest Road – Tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, 2023
  • Water main connections at Tulgeywood Lane and Sunset Dr – Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, 2023
  • Possible final water main connection at Benston if weather and time allows
  • Install drainage catch basins and connect to storm drain system

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 11, 2023

  • Complete any portions of water main not complete
  • Complete any portions of storm drainage system not complete
  • Begin cutting the road grade to prepare for road base gravel installation

 

Note about water service replacements: It is normal for the water to be cloudy or rusty immediately after replacement. If it is cloudy, this is most likely due to air trapped in the water. Let the water set and if it clears up, it is just air and the water will clear up in a few days. If it is rusty or discolored, run the cold water in a bath tub or other faucet that doesn’t have an aerator (screen) in the spigot. Run the water until it is clear. Remove and clean any aerators in faucet spigots. This may take an hour to clear.

Connecting a new water service to the new water main
Replacing a water meter pit and connection on a water service
August 28, 2023

Work Completed this Past Week

  • The new water main pipe was tested and passed all the necessary tests and it can be tied into the existing water system
  • Nearly all of the curb and sidewalk repairs were completed between Benston and Gibbs
  • Storm drainage system pipe was installed between Country Club and Benston
  • Preparations made for water service replacements

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 28, 2023

  • Continue installing storm drainage pipe and structures from Country Club south to Sunset
  • Begin water main tie-ins to the existing system – This will involve temporary shut downs of water service for up to 4 hours for residents in these neighborhoods
  • Water services will begin to be replaced between the new water main and homes

 

Work Anticipated Week of September 4, 2023 (Labor Day)

  • No work on Monday, September 4, 2023
  • Water main tie ins will continue
  • Water service replacements will continue to be done between the water main and the homes
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures will likely get finished

 

Note about water service replacements: It is normal for the water to be cloudy or rusty immediately after replacement.  If it is cloudy, this is most likely due to air trapped in the water. Let the water set and if it clears up, it is just air and the water will clear up in a few days.  If it is rusty or discolored, run the cold water in a bath tub or other faucet that doesn’t have an aerator (screen) in the spigot. Run the water until it is clear. Remove and clean any aerators in faucet spigots.

New storm drainage structure installed just south of Benston
New storm drainage pipe getting installed in Mears north of Country Club Road
August 19, 2023

The weather definitely slowed some of the progress this week.  Thank you for your patience as the Contractor is working to get this project done in a very timely manner.

 

Work Completed this Past Week

  • Continued work on the storm drainage system on the south end of Mears
  • Grading of sidewalk, sidewalk ramps and curb replacement areas between Benston and Gibbs
  • Remove curb, asphalt and pavement at the northwest corner of Mears and Main Street
  • Continued work to make the new water main safe for drinking

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 21, 2023

  • Continue installing new storm sewer pipe and structures at the south end of Mears, working to the north
  • Begin water main tie-ins to the existing system – This will involve temporary shut downs of water service for up to 4 hours for residents in these neighborhoods
  • Water services will begin to be replaced between the new water main and homes
  • Tentative schedule for new concrete curb and sidewalk between Benston and Gibbs is Wednesday, August 23, 2023

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 28, 2023

  • Water main tie ins will continue
  • Water service replacements will continue to be done between the water main and the homes
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures will continue to be installed

 

NOTE about water service replacements: It is normal for the water to be cloudy or rusty immediately after replacement.  If it is cloudy, this is most likely due to air trapped in the water. Let the water set and if it clears up, it is just air and the water will clear up in a few days.  If it is rusty or discolored, run the cold water in a bath tub or other faucet that doesn’t have an aerator (screen) in the spigot. Run the water until it is clear. Remove and clean any aerators in faucet spigots.

Working on a storm drainage structure and compacting soil around it
Crews working safely in a trench box while installing new storm drainage pipe in Mears
August 11, 2023

Work Completed this Past Week

  • Crews finished installing water main pipe except for final connections to the City system
  • New water main was tested for leaks and cleanliness
  • Storm drainage pipe and structures were installed with new outlet at the south end of Mears
  • Crews began removing concrete curb and sidewalk between Benston and Gibbs
  • Manhole covers and castings were lowered in the roadway in Mears between Benston and Gibbs in preparation of resurfacing later in the fall
  • Preparations for new concrete repairs to sidewalk and curb and gutter have been made

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 14, 2023

  • Continue installing new storm sewer pipe and structures at the south end of Mears, working to the north
  • Begin water main tie-ins to the existing system – This will involve temporary shut downs of water service for up to 4 hours for residents in these neighborhoods
  • Water services will begin to be replaced between the new water main and homes
  • Tentative schedule for new concrete curb and sidewalk between Benston and Gibbs is Friday, August 18, 2023

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 21, 2023

  • Water main tie ins may continue
  • Water service replacements will continue to be done between the water main and the homes
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures will continue to be installed

 

NOTE about water service replacements: It is normal for the water to be cloudy or rusty immediately after replacement.  If it is cloudy, this is most likely due to air trapped in the water. Let the water set and if it clears up, it is just air and the water will clear up in a few days.  If it is rusty or discolored, run the cold water in a bath tub or other faucet that doesn’t have an aerator (screen) in the spigot. Run the water until it is clear. Remove and clean any aerators in faucet spigots.

Crews lowering manhole covers between Benston and Gibbs
Crews working on new storm drainage structure at south end of Mears
August 4, 2023

Here is a quick update on the work that is proceeding rather nicely so far on Mears Avenue in Whitehall.  Thank you for your patience as the contractor works to get this project done in a very timely manner. There are times each day when one of the intersections of Mears and Country Club, Sunset, Tulgeywood, or Pinecrest might be closed, but please know that one or more of the other intersections will be open at all times. The contractor is also working to make sure they are all open at the end of each work day to provide as much access as possible to the residents in the neighborhoods there.

The contractor is planning to work tomorrow, Saturday, August 5, 2023 in an effort to finish the last bit of water main installation in Mears near Benston.

Work Completed this Past Week

  • After tomorrow, all of the new water main pipe will be installed along the east side of Mears between Benston and south of Pinecrest
  • Storm sewer pipe was delivered to the site and preparations are made for storm drainage installation next week

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 7, 2023

  • The new water main will be tested (for leaks and contamination) before it is connected to the City’s system
  • If all tests pass, some water main connections will be made at the intersections or at the north and south end
  • Water service replacements may begin between the water main and homes
  • New storm drainage system will be installed from the south end and work to the north.  There will be new pipes flowing from Tulgeywood to the south and from Sunset to the north.  The drainage system is sized so that additional pipes can be installed in the future in Pinecrest, Tulgeywood, and Sunset.
  • Some sidewalk and curb ramps will be removed in the northern portion between Gibbs and Benston

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 14, 2023

  • Water main tie ins may continue
  • Water service replacements will continue to be done between the water main and the homes
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures will continue to be installed
Lower a new section of water main pipe into the trench
Water main installation on the east side of Mears Avenue
July 28, 2023

As promised, work began this week on the reconstruction of Mears Avenue south of Benston Road.  Work was not slowed too bad by the heavy rains and work is now proceeding on schedule.

 

Work Completed this Past Week

  • Traffic Control Signage was installed
  • Manhole covers were lowered
  • Fabric was installed on drains to protect waterways
  • The roadway was removed from the south side of Benston to south of Pinecrest
  • Water main installation began at the south end near Pinecrest and is proceeding north

 

Work Anticipated Week of July 31, 2023

  • Water main will continue to be installed along the west side of Mears from north of Pinecrest to Benston
  • New hydrants and valves will be installed with the new water main
  • Surveying for locations of new infrastructure
  • Storm drainage materials will be delivered to the site

 

Work Anticipated Week of August 7, 2023

  • Water Main pipe will hopefully be completed for installation and then be tested for cleanliness and leaks
  • Connections to the existing water distribution system may take place if all tests pass
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures may begin to be installed
General Site condition with no Pavement on Mears
Workers assembling new water main fittings and valve and working around old water main
Crews excavating for new water main installation
July 23, 2023

Work Anticipated Week of July 24, 2023

  • Contractor will set up road closure signs
  • Manhole covers will be lowered in the roadway
  • Roadway pavement will be removed on Tuesday, July 25, 2023
  • Additional removals will take place
  • Materials and equipment will be delivered to the site
  • Underground pipe will begin to be installed

 

Work Anticipated Week of July 31, 2023

  • Water Main Pipe will begin to be installed
  • Storm Sewer pipe and drainage structures may be installed
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