Pack your Patience Today: Major Construction Begins on 26 Mile Road

If you thought it was congested on 26 Mile Road between Van Dyke Avenue and M-53 where major shopping centers have sprouted up in the past ten years, it’s only about to get worse.

A $3.15-million construction project to widen 26 Mile from Van Dyke to M-53 from a four-lane boulevard to a six-lane boulevard is set to begin June 20. 

The roadway affected is where Target, Home Depot and Meijer lie within a half mile of each other.

Signage warning of major construction has been posted, but workers will get down and dirty on Monday.  The project is expected to wrap up on Nov. 1, 2011.

Project Engineer Brian Santo with the Macomb County Department of Roads said the first phase of the project will be on the south side of 26 Mile Road, which would be the eastbound lanes.

During the first phase, traffic will be shifted to the north side or westbound lanes, with only a single lane going in each direction. The second phase will come when westbound traffic will be shifted to the new section of road, again using single lanes for traffic going both east and west.

The entire roadway will be taken out and replaced with new pavement and will be widened with additional lanes.  Access to the local shopping centers will be maintained during the construction phase, said Santo.

State and federal funds are paying for eighty percent of the project. The other 20 percent is paid by Macomb County.

So buckle up, turn on your air conditioning and pack your patience when driving down 26 Mile Road from Van Dyke to M-53 this summer.

Happy travels!