By James Hanlon
Leader Staff Writer
The M-24 construction project has hit a few snags on the last mile of wrap-up work this spring. Brick crosswalks appeared then disappeared several times at the M-24/Burdick St. intersection recently, as PK Contracting made two attempts to mark the crossings with a faux brick design, bottlenecking traffic each time. Both times the surfacing material, called Endurablend, fell apart the same day it was placed, said MDOT Construction Engineer Brian Travis.
Something was off about the material’s mix ratio. “Rain may have been a factor,” Travis said, “but if the material sets up and cures properly, rain/traffic should not damage it.”
PK is having discussions with their supplier and will present a plan to MDOT on how they plan to make the material to last. “So far the placement and removal has been at 100% contractor cost, MDOT has not paid anything for the work yet,” Travis said last week. “This is a product that PK believes very strongly in, and a product they have had good success with elsewhere.”
He added, “We still intend to deliver the decorative crosswalks with a good product that will last as intended.”
Besides the crosswalks, there are a few areas of pavement on M-24 that need adjusting due to ride quality, a handful of small punchlist items to address Downtown, and flower planters should, hopefully, be placed by the end of the month.
“(Besides the pavement work), I don’t anticipate many more lane closures on the project, most of the remaining work can be done from the parking lanes or with a mobile closure. We will have most of the work done by the end of this month, minus probably some small things like a few signs we still need to get made,” Travis said.
This week crews were to begin asphalt resurfacing the detour route used by northbound traffic during last years’ project. However, on Friday we received notice from MDOT stating, “The resurfacing of the detour route used by northbound traffic during last year’s M-24 project has been postponed and will NOT start on Monday, June 14 as originally planned. Once a date is finalized an updated advisory will be sent out.”
Eventually, work will begin on Ray Rd. between M-24 and N. Oxford Rd., and will continue along N. Oxford Rd., Glaspie St., Oxford Lake Dr., and E. Drahner Rd.