US-41, M-26 detours to be removed Thursday in Houghton
Contact:
James Lake, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-786-1830, ext. 323
Agency:
Transportation
October 27, 2009 -- After a construction season adjusting to detour routes in and around downtown Houghton, motorists are being asked to use caution when returning to normal traffic patterns.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin removing detour route signs in the Houghton area beginning the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 28, with the intention of restoring traffic to normal patterns sometime in the morning of Thursday, Oct. 29.
"Just as it takes time to adjust to an unfamiliar detour, it may take a few times for drivers to become re-familiarized with the normal traffic patterns," said Al Anderson, delivery engineer at MDOT's Ishpeming Transportation Service Center. "We ask that motorists be patient and extra cautious during the next several days."
Of primary concern is the restoration of one-way traffic on Montezuma Avenue, which has been two-way while Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton was closed for reconstruction. Also, a detour route on Sharon Avenue will be removed, and traffic on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge off ramp "Yooper Loop" will be restored for southbound traffic.
The project included replacement of subsurface utilities, construction of brick street and sidewalk, and installation of historical replica lighting. The construction renewed the pavement life, made aesthetic improvements to downtown Houghton, extended the life of the utility systems, and offers increased pedestrian safety.
For up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or visit the "Michigan Department of Transportation" page on Facebook and become a fan.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.