Big changes planned for U.S. 41 in 2019
MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Michigan Department of Transportation and the DNR has some big plans in store for U.S. 41 that they hope to have completed by 2019. On Wednesday night, members of the public had an opportunity to ask questions at an open forum at the Marquette Township Hall.
Recently, the Township received $2.4 million of conditional funding from MDOT to construct a tunnel underneath the US 41 corridor just east of the Marquette Menards store. This would connect trail networks in the area, and also bring foot traffic safely into the growing shopping and entertainment district.
Two roundabouts are also proposed for the Intersections at County Road 492 by Walmart, and Brickyard Road near the Best Buy store. The budget for the 2019 highway project is estimated at $6.7 million, with another $2.5 million estimated for the proposed multi-use trail and tunnel.
“There’s been a Federal Transportation Alternatives program grant that’s been secured for the project – and there’s just a couple of local match items that the township is working on filling out,” said the MDOT Ishpeming TSC Manager, Robert Tervo.
The Township still needs to raise $120,000 by next October. The plans are expected to be finalized around next summer.