GRAND RAPIDS, MI Just when you'd become familiar with your now-detoured drive to work around the construction on Fulton Street and U.S. 131, this happens.
Plainfield Avenue is slated to close for three months this coming Monday, June 11, between Leonard and Ann streets for $1.7 million worth of storm sewer work and resurfacing, as well as installation of a one-of-a-kind storm water filtration system. The work is expected to conclude in early September.
The project also makes Plainfield Avenue the latest major city thoroughfare to undergo a "road diet," reducing the avenue's number of drivable lanes. City leaders have argued the diets slow traffic and create safer conditions for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and other users.
(Other streets to be put on a diet include Division Avenue and Burton Street, the latter being a controversial choice for local businesses.)
The Plainfield diet, once finished, will create one lane in each direction between Leonard and Ann streets, with a center turn lane broken only by the seven bioretention islands.
The lengthy project will detour through traffic throughout its duration, although local access is expected to be maintained for businesses and residents.
The project's first phase will close Plainfield between Lafayette and Ann streets, with a second phase expected to close Plainfield between Leonard and Quimby. Construction will resurface Plainfield and upgrade Creston Neighborhood sanitary and storm sewer systems. Water main work also is scheduled, as is work on sidewalks.
Its centerpiece, though, will be construction of seven bioretention islands, a unique storm water filtration system that will be the first of its kind in Grand Rapids. The islands vary in size and will be situated down the middle of Plainfield Avenue once complete.
The islands will contain special flora, trees and soil designed to filter out pollutants from storm water before it hits the Grand River.
They largely are being paid for by $152,000 in donations drummed up by Creston Neighborhood residents and local community foundations.
Continued here:
More traffic: Plainfield Avenue closes next week to go on 'diet,' get unique green technology under $1.7 million project
