Commission reminds residents of need for M-68 project

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

With construction on M-68 ready to begin in the spring the city commission and city manager Joe Hefele have been hearing a lot of public comment pertaining to the construction and interfering with the Fourth of July parade. The commission discussed the project and the disgruntled comments they have been hearing at their Wednesday morning meeting. They asked the public to be reminded of the need for the project.

First and foremost the project was not designed as a streetscape project, it is a water main replacement project first. After the old and undersized water main is replaced with a new 12-inch main the road has to be reconstructed. Since all that work is being done it has been decided to do some streetscape after the road is reconstructed.

Not only is the project very much needed it is coming with a good price tag as it is a $4.5 million dollar project with the city only paying a small amount of local match. If the city was to wait to do the project it would be giving up the grant money and the project costs would increase in the future.

Hefele will be discussing the parade route issue with the Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce, working on an alternative ro

ute. Depending on how construction goes part of M-68 could be used if it is deemed safe by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), which who is involved with the project and also is the issuer of the parade permit.

?I understand folks’ apprehension, particularly those who own businesses that will be in a construction zone for much of the year, but this project has to be done. And once it is done, our water system will be much improved, the appearance of the main drag will be much improved and no one will have to worry about another project like this for the next 100 years,? said Hefele.

MDOT is working on scheduling a public meeting sometime during the week of March 21 to give those affected by the project a chance to meet the contractor, ask questions and get the latest information on the project. The project is planned to begin in early April.

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