MARQUETTE COUNTY -- The Michigan Department of Transportation is gearing up for a five million dollar road reconstruction project in Marquette County next year.
They're planning to reconstruct US-41 from the Carp River in Marquette to south of the Michigan Welcome Center in Harvey.
The highway may only be 1.6 miles long, but it keeps the Marquette Police very busy.
"I know that we, as a department, have made an effort,” explains Marquette Detective/Captain, Gordie Warchock. “We want to cut down on accidents by having a greater presence on the highway."
Still, it's one of the roads with the highest speed limits in the city of Marquette: 55 miles an hour.
“Most of the accidents that I’m aware of happen because of high speeds,” Warchock said. “People pulling out of intersections when they shouldn't. Crossing over the center line. I don't think a new type of highway is going to alleviate those types of accidents."
But one thing the highway reconstruction will improve is the poor road conditions for commuters.
Next May, construction crews will raise the level of the road about two feet. They'll also put asphalt on top of the concrete road because asphalt is much easier to maintain.
“Well, that section of roadway is in pretty rough condition,” explains James Lake of MDOT. “It was built in 1973 so it's need of work. It was also built to a standard of the time."
The bike paths will be relocated closer to Lake Superior, and shoulders will be built along both sides of the highway.
MDOT officials say that the construction project will be a long-lasting fix for this stretch of highway that's reached the end of its service life.
The public meeting to discuss the project will be next Monday at the Citizen's Forum in the Lakeview Arena.
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