ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting at the end of the month to discuss an upcoming roundabout project in Ishpeming.
The roundabout would be located at the intersection of US-41 and Lakeshore Dr. The project is estimated to cost $6.4 million to build the roundabout, including asphalt rebuilding, drainage work, installing a guardrail, retaining walls, lighting, signs, pavement markings, bridge widening with steel beams, deck replacement, bridge barrier construction, and approach work.
MDOT says the project has been on its list for many years. In 2018, MDOT installed a left turn traffic signal at the intersection, which the agency says reduced the amount of crashes but increased the amount of time drivers spent at the light.
MDOT says safety was the main consideration for pursuing a roundabout there.
“It’s an intersection that’s had a history of some serious crashes and fatal crashes over the years,” said Dan Weingarten, the U.P. Communications Representative for MDOT. “As recent as 2017, it was one of the highest crash severity intersections in the Upper Peninsula.”
The meeting will be Monday, August 28 at 2 p.m. at the Ishpeming Senior Center, located at 121 Greenwood St. MDOT staff and contractors will provide a presentation followed by a question-and-answer period.
Attendees who require mobility, visual, hearing, written or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or CurryO@Michigan.gov, preferably at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage. Requests made after this timeframe will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible.
MDOT expects work to begin with preliminary activity this September and be completed through four main phases in 2024. The project is expected to be complete in October 2024.
During the project, one lane will be open in each direction on US-41. Local traffic will be detoured during some phases of the project.
