MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The rehabilitation and resurfacing of Cornell Road will start in early September.

The project will consist of grinding the existing pavement and gravel base in place and resurfacing the road with new asphalt pavement. The final project design as approved will not include adding a paved shoulder. The approved project will include lowering the hill south of Tihart Road to improve sight distance and safety in that area, stripe the travel lanes to 10 feet wide, and improve drainage. Only 31 trees will be removed as approved. 25 of these trees are dead or distressed as determined by a forestry expert member of the project review task force appointed by the Township
Board.

Through traffic on Cornell Road would be detoured by posted signs to Marsh Road between Grand River
Avenue (M-43) and Haslett Road. Residents on Cornell will be able to access their homes at all times during the project. There will be several short term full closures (several hours to several days) at various locations on Cornell Road for cross culvert replacement, hill cut and other work. School bus service for both the Haslett and Okemos School Districts will continue uninterrupted with no change to current bus stops. The routes for the Okemos buses have been altered which may slightly change pick-up times. If so, this will be conveyed to affected families via the bus driver or school district.

The anticipated project construction schedule is currently estimated as follows:

September: Tree removal, culvert replacements, hill cut by Ingham County Road Department crews.

October: Pavement recycling, grading and paving by a contractor, then ditching, restoration and clean-up by Road Department crews.

Completion expected by November 15, 2013. Please note that dates and duration are approximate. Poor weather and other unforeseen conditions can cause delays.