road - WKTV Journal

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Construction on the intersection of 54th Street and Clyde Park will start next week. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Drive along 54th Street near Clyde Park and you can’t help but notice the orange barrels that are out along the street.

Road construction officially starts in the City of Wyoming on April 3 as contractors have been staging to prepare the reconfiguration of the corner of 54th Street and Clyde Park Avenue.

In the planning stages for the past several years, the city finally received approval from the federal government to allow construction of an entrance/exit from southbound U.S. 131 to the Meijer, said Russ Henckel, assistant director for the city’s Department of Public Works.

“The federal government has a policy on a freeway egress being used for a private business,” Henckel said, adding it took time for the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the placement of the pylons placement needed to reconfigure the ramps on and off I.S. 131.

The layout of the street. (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

Goal is to Improve Traffic Flow

The design features an egress that allows traffic from U.S. 131 to turn right or left on 54th Street or head straight into Meijer. Those exiting Meijer would have the option of going right on 54th Street or straight on to southbound U.S. 131. Those wishing to go left out of Meijer will have to exit on to Clyde Park and then turn left at the intersection light. There will be a traffic light at the southbound U.S. 131 and 54th Street intersection as there is now.

The current entrance and exit from Meijer to 54th Street will be eliminated. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

The northbound U.S, 131 on and off ramps will not be changed.

The current turn-in to Meijer from the westbound lane of 54th Street will be eliminated. The left turn lane on westbound 54th Street to southbound Clyde Park will be extended to help reduce the traffic from backing up into the westbound lane of 54th Street, Henckel said.

Also part of the project will be the resurfacing of Gezon Parkway from Byron Center to Clyde Park and 54th Street from Clyde Park to Division Avenue.

Other Projects

Also starting on April 3 is the resurfacing of Eastern Avenue from 28th Street to 44th Street.

On Jordan, Calhoun, Opal and Loraine, a waterman replacement project will be started the first week of April.

For an update on construction activities, visit wyomingmi.gov/ConstructionUpdates.

The 44th Street bridge over U.S. 131 is temporarily closed due to maintenance.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The 44th Street SW bridge over U.S. 131 will be closed to through traffic staring today, July 23, through 6 a.m. Monday, July 26. The closure is due to maintenance.

U.S. 131 traffic will be allowed to turn right fro the freeway exits on 44th Street but will not be able to turn left and cross the bridge. Traffic on 44th Street will be directed to turn before the bridge and yes the next exit, either 36th Street or 54th Street.

All work is weather dependent. The project is being lead by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Other road projects in the city include resurfacing work on Wilson Avenue, both northbound and southbound lanes. Currently, traffic is now routed to the outer lanes while the contractor performs concrete restoration on the median islands.

For more on road projects in the City of Wyoming, click here.