• Workers on Cornell Road out on the job.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Recently you may have heard a lot of noise and that's because Meridian Township is undergoing a number of roadway and pathway projects.

And some have already been completed, like the Inter-Urban Pathway on Raby Road.

"We've had one message from one of our avid bicyclists thanking us for getting it done and letting other bicyclists know that it is done," said Raymond Severy, Director of Public Works and Engineering of Meridian Township.

Another project that both bicyclists and pedestrians can look forward to is the Okemos Road Pedestrian Bridge. Plans are still in the works for the bridge and once they're finalized, Severy said it will take time for the structure to be built.

"It will take them probably three months or so to actually build the structure and get it here, so I wouldn't anticipate the bridge being done probably until May," said Severy.

However, other projects, like Cornell Road, are so close to being done that you can almost smell the new pavement. In fact, Bill Conklin, Managing Director for the Ingham County Road Department said it should be completed by the end of October. But in order to complete the project, they need to close down the road.

Conklin said starting Monday, October 7th, Cornell Road will be temporarily shut down. Workers will be working to flatten a hill, just South of Tihart Road, and make for safer travels.

Many residents are happy with the work done so far and the work yet to come; however, some say they wish the road was being widened.

"It was proposed to widen the road bed to create a shoulder and a place for walking; however, that was going to necessitate relocating the ditch and culvert system and that would require a substantial amount more of tree removal," said Bill Conklin, Managing Director of Ingham County Road Department.

Conklin said they're going to try to restore the shoulders as much as possible and mark the lanes narrower as well.