By Jim Bloch
Huron Avenue, the main downtown artery in Port Huron, is scheduled to be rebuilt from the Black River to Glenwood Ave. as part of the overhaul of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza. At Glenwood, Huron — also known as the I-94 Business Loop — splits in two, with Pine Grove Avenue heading north-northwest to the bridge.
The plaza expansion, expected to take place more than a decade ago, stalled for the lack of federal funding in the wake of crash of 2008. In 2020, Michigan Department of Transportation received $25 million Infrastructure Rebuilding America grant to proceed with a plaza rebuild with a smaller footprint than originally planned.
Thomas Anderson, project manager for MDOT’s reconstruction of the downtown section of I-94 Business Loop, updated the city council at its regular meeting July 10 about the project.
“The project scope is removing and replacing the pavement, curb and gutter, traffic signals and storm sewer,” said Anderson. “We’re also upgrading the sidewalks at intersections to be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. We’re repairing the bridge over the Black River. Along with the project, the city is going to be replacing its water line and sanitary sewer. We’re doing the survey right now.”
The project design and engineering will be completed during the winter of 2024. Bids will go out in the fall of 2025, with construction in the summer of 2026.
“The current scope of the project does not include anything behind the curb, such as sidewalks, landscaping, planter boxes of street lighting,” Anderson said.
But MDOT is going to apply for a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant to do that work.
“A TAP grant would pay for all of it and allow the streetscape to go through the entire project,” said Anderson.
MDOT will need a resolution from the city to apply for the grant.
“We’ve already drafted one,” said Anderson. “We also need public involvement and comment and part of that is me coming to this meeting. We’re going to the Downtown Development Authority meeting Aug. 12.
The application deadline for the TAP grant is in October.
If you don’t get the grant, do you have a Plan B? asked council member Anita Ashford.
Plan B is to do nothing between the curbs and the business fronts, said Anderson.
Council member Conrad Haremza asked whether the construction could be scheduled to precede or follow the city’s busy month of July with the Blue Water Festival and the Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race.
“It’s not going to be a 60-day project,” said Anderson. “It’s probably going to be longer. It’s a big project. There’s a lot to do. Our goal is not to affect Boat Week and not to be working during July. I know it’s a big deal for you guys and we don’t want to do anything to impact that. So either we’ll start it early, like February or March and get it done before it. Or start it the day after you’re done.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.