Want to know what’s happening with road improvements this summer? City updates public

The City of Sault Ste Marie wants to update the public on road construction and improvement projects scheduled for this coming summer.

The Easterday Ave. Truck Route Reconstruction and Carbide Dock Port Reconstruction projects

Both awarded respectively to Bacco Construction Company and Roen Salvage Company.  Affected property owners have received updated letters.  You will see mobilization of equipment soon.

Future projects for 2023 include:

Meridian Street – W. Easterday Ave to 8^th Ave (.49 miles)

Water main and sanitary sewer replacement roadway reconstruction with 3” HMA,8-12” aggregate. base, 12” sub base with also include drainage and shoulder work.  We have already been working with several businesses and LSSU and plan to notify all property owners of our plans once the project is bid so we can ensure we have adequate funding in place.  No special assessment is expected as the project is funded through MDOT’s Small Urban Program. The project schedule for MDOT bidding is March 3^rd with construction stating the 1^st week in May. Total estimate still in design; $2.5M

We wanted to update you on the Meridian Street Project that recently bid for the 2023 construction season.  The project entailed:  Sanitary sewer reconfiguration, watermain lining, shared use path overlay, road reconstruction, curb and gutter, and storm drainage from Easterday Ave to 8^th St.  MDOT bid the project and although we had several contractors pull the plans, only one bidder turned in a package.

Unfortunately, we had budgeted $2.5M for the project and bid came in at $4.7M.  Because of the large overage we rejected the bid and will be rebidding the project again later this year after we value engineer the project to reduce cost and look for additional funding. We recognize the critical importance of this project and will continue to work towards reconstruction.

Meridian Project Cover Sheet

Water Street Combined Sewer Overflow

In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps under their 219 funding, this project would close out one of our three last remaining CSOs.  This would eliminate CSO site #007 @ Water & Bingham intersection.  The project includes Construct Ashmun St./Maple St. Sanitary Sewer Lift Station, Reconstruct the sanitary sewer overflow structure in the intersection of Bingham Avenue & Water Street to eliminate an 8 inch overflow connector between sanitary and storm sewer which outfalls through St Mary’s Falls Park at the Bingham Avenue & Water Street intersection, and Rehabilitate the storm drainage out fall piping (12 & 48 inch) within St Mary’s Falls Park.  Total estimate still in design; $1.2M.  We are still waiting on the project agreement from the USACE. 

Power Canal Trail Phase II – Non motorized trail continuation – Ashmun to Johnston Street in partnership with MDOT, Cloverland, & Private Donations. (.45 miles)

This project, originally slated for 2022, was delayed due to emergency utility work on the canal required by Cloverland.  MDOT awarded the contract to Payne & Dolan, and they have agreed to an extension of time until August 2023.  We will continue to update the public on the project as cannot proceed with the project until Cloverland’s work is completed as they are working directly in the path of the trail.  Total cost for 2022 before delay; $289,000.

Safe Routes to School

The proposed project consists of improvements to pedestrians within the service areas of Lincoln Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Sault Area Middle School in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  This project would also complement and continue the connection between a previous SRTS project at Bahweting Schools. The topo survey is complete and the environmental review is under way. Next will be design and then the public will be invited to stakeholder meetings.  Partners include MDOT, Sault Schools, Sault Tribe, and the city. Total estimate still in design; $820,000 MDOT will also be conducting two projects this year including the downtown repaving (starts April 24^th) on Ashmun Street, from the bridge to Portage Avenue, and the M-129 repaving of 18^th Ave to 10 Mile Road.  The city will be replacing watermain from 18^th Ave to 3 Mile Road.  While we are not the lead agency on these projects, we are partnering to address utility and other issues while they are working in these areas.