The infrastructure in Kentwood’s Meadowlane Drive neighborhood, a quiet residential loop off Kalamazoo Avenue, was showing its age. Many of the utilities dated back to the 1950s, and the storm sewer system to the west needed several critical repairs. Additionally, the sanitary sewer line was struggling to keep up with current flow demands, raising concerns about long-term capacity and reliability.
To modernize the neighborhood’s infrastructure, the City of Kentwood led a complete reconstruction of Meadowlane Drive. The project included new curb and gutter, sidewalks, and upgrades to the watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer systems. One of the most significant challenges was replacing the sanitary sewer line, which was suspended where it crossed over the Paris Drain. Because a deeper alignment wasn’t feasible, the new sewer was suspended inside a steel casing above the drain, a creative solution that maintained flow while protecting the waterway. Close work with EGLE ensured the environmentally sensitive area was protected throughout and after construction.
As work began, crews discovered many homes had undocumented storm sewer laterals connecting to the existing system. Locating the existing storm sewer laterals required additional sewer inspection and significant coordination with residents and the contractor. The design was quickly modified to include new laterals for every property.
Despite these surprises, the project stayed on track and was completed while maintaining local traffic, which was difficult given there was only one road in and out of the project area. The neighborhood now enjoys updated and more resilient infrastructure, improved stormwater management, and a smoother roadway, leaving residents and the city with a safer, more reliable foundation for the future.