$1.4 Million Improvement Projects Now Underway at Mackinaw City
By Paul Gingras

"It's a busy year," said Mackinaw City Village Manager Jeff Lawson, regarding $1.4 million in infrastructure projects taking place in the village, several of which are complete or in progress, with others to be completed before the snow flies.

The village is working on improvements to Louvigny Street, in part, to get it in shape by the time the 32nd Annual St. Ignace Car Show floods the village with traffic. There are sewer projects planned on South Huron Avenue and Wenniway Street, also, and the village's state-backed affordable housing project is also contributing to the flurry of activity.

At its Thursday, May 17 meeting, the Village Council authorized issuance of $600,000 in capital improvement bonds to fund some of the projects.

On Louvigny Street, where new curbs have been installed, $275,000 will be spent. The village has addressed parking concerns voiced by business owners, Mr. Lawson said.

Gravel went in Wednesday, May 30, and paving is to begin this week, unless bad weather or problems hinder the project, he added. Louvigny has been alternately opened and closed to accommodate traffic. On Memorial Day weekend, the village opened it to handle an influx of visitors.

The first exit off of southbound I-75 in Mackinaw City, exit 339, leads directly to Louvigny Street, so completing improvements there before Car Show is important, Mr. Lawson explained. The show is Thursday, June 28, through Saturday, June 30.

Louvigny Street has been low- ered two feet, leading the village to replace a portion of the water main at the intersection of Etherington Street. The main was set deeper into the ground to avoid water freezing in the line during winter, Mr. Lawson said.

The sale of village land for the Mackinaw City Family Apartments housing project has generated $103,000. Since it involved tax-reverted property, proceeds were split between area municipalities.

Mackinaw City will use its $43,000 cut to pave portions of Pond and Perrot streets, which will be used to access the affordable housing project.

The state awarded the village a $70,000 block grant to help pay paving costs, and the last step to secure the funds is underway, Mr. Lawson said. The village must complete an environmental review concerning whether historical sites or wetlands would be affected by the project.

Mr. Lawson does not anticipate a problem. The review should be a formality, since the roads exist but are not paved, he explained.

For $10,000, the village hired engineering company C2AE of Gaylord to design the road. The village has employed the company, formerly called Capital Consultants, for years.

Once the design is completed, the village will seek bids for reconstructing the road, which is owned by the city.

The state block grant expires in January 2008, so the project must be completed by winter, Mr. Lawson said.

Consumers Energy has begun laying underground conduit in the right-of-way along West Central Avenue, so power and cable lines can be relocated in the future.

Materials to replace the sewer along Wenniway Street have arrived. The project will begin when conduit installation on Louvigny is finished. It involves three-fifths of a mile, from Cedar Street to Jane Street.

Beginning in October, sewer lines will be replaced along a half-mile stretch of South Huron Avenue, from Wawatam Park to the state dock.

These are the main projects of the season, Mr. Lawson said. The village may replace some sidewalks, also.