gneese@mininggazette.com
Michigan Department of Transportation rendering
A $9.6 million reconstruction project between downtown Houghton and Michigan Technological University is scheduled to begin Monday. The two-year project will start this year with improvements to Townsend Drive, including the addition of a median and the reduction to two lanes of traffic.
HOUGHTON A $9.6 million reconstruction project on U.S. 41 between downtown Houghton and Michigan Technological University will get underway on Monday.
The project is intended to improve traffic flow, as well as improve pedestrian safety and reduce unnecessary maintenance costs.
Work will start this year with Townsend Drive. The current four-lane configuration will be reduced to two lanes with a median. Third lanes will be added at intersections, with turnarounds and crossovers as needed. The wider sidewalks on College Avenue and Cliff Drive are intended to promote continuity between College Avenue and the Michigan Tech c
gneese@mininggazette.com
Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette
The section along Sharon Avenue where a culvert will be replaced is one of the paving projects slated for this year in Houghton.
HOUGHTON Paving, city beautification and lighting were among the priorities Houghton City Council members asked to see funded during a nontraditional first budget meeting for the year.
City Manager Eric Waara typically uses the first budget meeting to provide a high-level overview of the city’s projects for the year and noteworthy changes within the city’s general fund. With three new council members, and uncertainty about the conditions and amount of COVID-19 stimulus money, he instead turned the floor over to council members.