Roadwork update: Improvements begin on US-23
Travelers in the Rogers City area, in the first week-and-a-half of the reconstruction of US-23, are learning to adjust their driving habits to allow for delays. Whether they?re at the Trout River bridge, or south of town to M-65, delays are being encountered. The US-23 reconstruction project is one of five projects that will impact the area this year.
The runway will be extended at the Rogers City Airport; Airport Drive, south of the airport property, will be extended off US-23; the Rogers City Senior Center will see construction for three months; and the non-motorized trail will be extended to Hoeft State Park. The biggest impact, however, will be felt from the US-23 project that?s being worked on by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Flagholders started appearing earlier this week with the start of culvert work by Cordes Excavating of Hillman. There were slowdowns this week of several minutes or more, especially between Rogers City Industries and M-65.
MARY ANN HEIDEMANN, County Development Commission director, believes with the construction crews in the area and working on the various projects in Rogers City, it should be a boost to the economy. ?I?m looking forward to having all this construction occur, because having all the crews in town means every restaurant, bar, motel, and general purpose store would likely see more customers this year,? said Heidemann. ?We should all remember that as we have to wait for a flag holder.?
Some members of the business community don?t share those sentiments. Cliff Kortman, owner of Kortman?s Restaurant on Bradley Highway for 35 years, is concerned the project will hurt business.
?I THINK IT?S going to hurt quite a bit,? said Kortman. ?How are people going to get here?? Construction will include curb and gutter in front of his restaurant. ?It won?t do us any good,? said Kortman of the project. He said his business depends on truckers stopping in for a bite to eat, and he?s worried they won?t be able to get in after the curbs are installed. Kortman said he?s asked for wider driveways but isn?t sure whether his request will be honored by MDOT.
Theresa Krzesowiak, who has owned Chi Chi?s Restaurant for 38 years, is concerned about the same things. She believes travelers will avoid the area and bypass Bradley Highway. ?Later on it will help,? she said.
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?That way we won?t have the construction drag out over many years. It will be kind of a mess. They are going to maintain traffic through the whole project, and I think that?s a blessing,? said Heidemann. ?There will not be a detour. They?ll keep one lane open on the US-23 project.? The airport runway project and Airport Road project should not get in the way of the traveler; however the exception might be some of the utility work along 23. ?But again, because all that work is being done in the same season, I think that will minimize the disruption,? said Heidemann.
Heidemann also believes neither the senior construction project nor the trail extension at the end of summer are likely to get into people?s way. Onaway also will see a major construction project. Every city street will be affected with the installation of the sewer system. In addition, Phase II of the Onaway courthouse restoration is underway with the elevator and windows being put in.