2020 Construction Season
Current and upcoming municipal construction projects.

Lakeshore Boulevard Reconstruction
- Ongoing
- Wright St to Hawley St
Staff have completed work on the design, permits, plans and specifications for this project. Design and drafting are complete. Project is currently being advertised for bids with a bid opening scheduled for March 26.

Founders Landing Piling Reuse
- Summer/Fall 2020
- Lake Superior
The pier redevelopment utilizing the piles at Founders Landing is set to start construction this summer. The City is required to either reuse these piles or remove them and the project was incorporated as a part of the brownfield plan for Founders Landing. The project area is located in Lake Superior adjacent to the Founders Landing development and south of the lower harbor ore dock. The north set of piles are directly east of Baraga Street and the south set of piles are east of the Hampton Inn.
The north pier will consist of a multi-use walkway with a space for boats to dock during the day. The south dock will be an eight-foot wide board walk with viewing areas spaced throughout.
The total cost of this project, including both piers, is estimated to be $5,670,000 for construction by Kokosing Industrial and $200,000 for final design and construction oversight by GEI Consultants. The project is entirely funded through the Founders Landing brownfield plan.

Marquette Drive Upgrade
- Summer/Fall 2020
- (Lakeview Dr. to North End)
The piping servicing the residents along this section of Marquette Drive is dependent on 6-inch sand cast piping from 1958. The existing water main is not adequate to provide fire protection. This project will upsize the existing pipe to 8-inch D.I. piping which will improve fire flows, increase residential flows, and replace aged pipe. This street does not have appropriate storm control currently and will be upgraded with the appropriate piping and structures. Due to the topography, a storm sewer easement will be required to allow drainage to outlet into an existing swale. This project will incorporate a concrete curb and gutter. The street cross section will be constructed to meet current design standards and guidelines as used previously in the Shiras Hills Area.
Design and drafting for this project are complete. The bid opening is scheduled for April 16.

Lakeview Drive Upgrade
- Summer/Fall 2020
- Marquette Dr. to South End
The piping servicing the residents along this section of Lakeview Drive is dependent on 6-inch sand cast piping from 1958. The existing water main is not adequate to provide fire protection. This project will upsize the existing pipe to 8-inch D.I. piping which will improve fire flows, increase residential flows and replace aged pipe. This street does not have the appropriate storm control and will be upgraded with the appropriate piping and structures. The rebuild will incorporate concrete curb and gutter. The street cross section will be constructed to meet current design standards and guidelines as used previously in the Shiras Hills Area.
Design and drafting are completed and the bid opening is scheduled for April 16.

Union Street Upgrade
- Summer/Fall 2020
- Wilkinson Ave. to Presque Isle Ave.
We are anticipating poor soils under this street which will require undercutting of the street in those areas. This project will replace the straight curbing with curb and gutter and any existing curb and gutter found in poor condition. The fire flows and the piping servicing the residents along this section of Union Street are dependent on 8-inch 1969 cast iron and 8-inch 1980 ductile iron pipes and will not need replacement at this time. Manhole structures and laterals will be replaced as needed. The existing storm sewer is 36-inch 1970 CMP and 36-inch 1981 RCP piping. The 36-inch CMP piping will be replaced with RCP piping. All storm sewer structures found in poor condition will be replaced. Currently sidewalk exists on the south side of the street between Wilkinson and Longyear Avenues. There is sufficient right of way width to extend the sidewalk to Presque Isle Avenue on the south side of the street
Design and drafting are completed and the bid opening is scheduled for April 16.

Sidewalk Repair, Replacement, and Extension
- Ongoing
- Citywide
This project entails the replacement of portions of sidewalk which have been determined by the Engineering and Public Works Departments to be hazardous to the public. Sidewalk repair is an ordinance requirement.
Sidewalks are walked every year and inspected for conditions that may be hazardous to the walking public. Sidewalks that pose the greatest risk for a tripping hazard are a priority for the replacement program.
Areas of the City that currently do not have sidewalks are considered for extension if funds are available and/or it becomes a priority due to safety issues.

Street Improvement and Maintenance Projects
- Ongoing
- Citywide
The SIMP program is used to extend the useful service life of our existing streets. This program needs to be done on a yearly basis to keep the streets from deteriorating to a stage where they will need to be completely replaced. Without this program more streets will be placed in the category for complete reconstruction and will not meet their projected life span, thus increasing costs substantially in the future.
Part of this program includes the replacement of curbing that is in poor condition. In addition minor storm sewer work may be required to add drainage structures or replace existing drainage structures to provide adequate storm water control.
This program is done in conjunction with the City’s sanitary sewer replacement program. Replacement of the sewer laterals at this time negates future disruption to the public, additional repairs to the street, and ultimately saves the City money.

Dead River Bridges
- Summer/Fall 2020
- CR 550 and Lakeshore Blvd.
Both vehicular bridges that cross the Dead River, Country Rd. 550 and Lakeshore Blvd., are in need of deck sealant and minor repairs. The 550 bridge was constructed in 1995 and the Lakeshore bridge in 1984. Since these bridges were constructed, hairline cracks have developed in the reinforced concrete deck allowing salt water to soak through the deck exposing the reinforcing steel and box beams to corrosion.
In addition, minor work is required for wing walls and abutments of the Lakeshore Blvd. bridge. Current research has shown that the use of silane based concrete sealers are effective at sealing the top of the concrete and its cracks and inhibiting water from finding its way into the bridge concrete deck and corroding the reinforcing steel. Research further shows these sealers are a long term cost effective way of extending a bridge’s useful life.