Downtown Ishpeming road construction is almost done

Ishpeming business owners will soon be breathing a sigh of relief. The construction on Main Street is entering its final phase.

After a three-year process, the street is being completed with fresh pavement and sidewalks. The city hopes to have everything done by the end of the month.

“I think it’s going to make a difference in how the city is going to do,” Ishpeming business owner Charlie Anderson said. “People will come downtown; it’s much more welcoming. It’s one of those things where you grouse about it while it’s being done, but once it’s over, you’re glad they did it.”

The goal of the project will be to make the downtown area easier to access and more attractive for shoppers and tourists.

The city will be even closer to this goal with the upcoming facade project, which will help restore historic buildings to their original appearance. The Picture This Art Gallery, the Peninsula Bank and Miner’s First National Bank buildings and the Gossard building will all be restored to how they looked in 1922.

“We think our downtown is just looking better, and people definitely want to come downtown,” Anderson said. “That’s the idea, make them want to come down.”

Construction for the facade project is scheduled to begin by August 1st. Road construction should be completed in time for Independence Day festivities.