MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Smith Drain Project construction has begun along Jolly Road near Okemos Road in Meridian Township.

Jolly Road has been reduced down to one lane in each direction as construction crews are in the process of removing old pipes from under the road and replacing them with new ones.

The old pipes were made of corrugated steel and put in in the 1970’s and have since rusted, becoming extremely dangerous to road users.

“At least on more than one occasion the pipe actually collapsed, not in the road but right off of the road,” said Ingham County Drain Commissioner Patrick Lindemann. “It was so rusted that it just collapsed.”

The new pipe system being installed is made of concrete and expected to have a life expectancy of about 75 years.

The size of the pipes is also being increased to increase flow capacity and alleviate flooding along with the addition of a large water complex for the storage of runoff and water produced.

The project costs almost 3.8 million dollars and is paid for by people who own property and put water into it.

“Every penny of it is going to improve the flooding conditions south of the road and increase the storage capacity downstream to the north,” said Lindemann.

According to Lindemann, Jolly Road construction is ahead of schedule and the road should be opened back to normal before the beginning of the school year and MSU home football games.

Following the completion of construction on Jolly Road, crews will begin to do work to the north and to the south near the highway.