PELLSTON — The construction on U.S. 31 north of Pellston continuing is still on schedule, according to Michigan Department of Transportation officials, but unnecessary distractions from lost drivers are causing headaches for the contractors.
While there will be a break for the July 4 holiday on Tuesday, the first stage of construction is in its final weeks, said James Lake, spokesperson with Michigan Department of Transportation. That stage consists of work on the northern end of the project area, which includes straightening the curve of the highway slightly near Ball Road and peat excavation to help control soil conditions.
The project’s third stage is also occurring concurrently, and involves pavement in the southern part of the construction area being crushed and shape into a new road bed and repaved with new asphalt on top. The first layer of asphalt, Lake said, has been laid.
Once those steps are complete, the contractor will move to the middle section of the project, which will involve fixing box culverts and cross culverts, and additional road crushing and shaping and repaving.