East Nine Mile Road Construction Begins This Week!
The City of Ferndale will begin its East Nine Mile Road multi-modal and resurfacing project this week and it will go through August 13, 2015, concluding just before the Woodward Dream Cruise event. As always, timelines are contingent upon weather and frost laws. The project area is East Nine Mile from Woodward Avenue to West End Street .The project is funded by the City of Ferndale Major Roads and Federal Highway SAFETEA 3R Grant.
The project includes a conversion of the road from 4 to 3 lanes, installing landscaped median buffers, improved pedestrian crossing points and ramps, bike lanes, road resurfacing, and some curb and drive apron replacements. Pedestrian push button crossings will be installed at City Hall and Credit Union One areas. In the median of Woodward and Nine Mile, the outer Nine Mile lanes at the intersection will be converted to right turns only, and the median lane converted from 3 to 2 lanes. The construction crews will be working from east to west starting on the north side of the street, but the Woodward and Nine Mile median lane conversion will be one of the first to occur when road construction traffic control devices arrive on April 4 or shortly thereafter.
Pedestrian access at crosswalks will be impacted, as well as some driveway accesses to businesses. The pedestrian crossings across East Nine Mile at the east corners of Woodward will have no access for a 4-5-day period during this project, therefore sidewalks and ADA access will be restricted on both East Nine Mile and at the east corners of Woodward. Other intermittent pedestrian access will be restricted along East Nine Mile throughout the construction. Driveway access will be constructed in halves or in the case where a business has two drive approaches, they will construct them one at a time and then flipping to keep access open at all times to businesses.Construction crews will maintain access by providing temporary gravel drives. These businesses in the DDA area include:
One-Drive Approach Construction
- Ferndale Police Department
- Credit Union One (easterly approach only)
- 443 E. Nine Mile
- 522 E. Nine Mile
Two-Drive Approach Construction
- Black Owl, 345 E. Nine Mile
- 371 E. Nine Mile (ie: parking lot for Chamber of Commerce and Credit Union One on north side of street)
- Blumz by JR Designs (curb work in front of both and one drive), 503 E. Nine Mile
All intersections will remain open to through traffic, and Nine Mile will be reduced to two lanes (one lane in each direction) during construction. During Stage II expect to see flaggers at various points helping to direct traffic while they construct the median landscape islands. These islands will be located at Lofts on 9, City Hall, Credit Union One and east of Paxton. Do not expect to always see construction happening in your area since the project is the entire length of East Nine Mile, and crews will be moving along on sections as they go. The alley drive apron on the north side of East Nine Mile behind Como's will be impacted by construction for about two weeks, and will be problematic for delivery access. For deliveries, we recommend using the north approach for this alley from Vester Street or using Vester Street altogether.
SMART bus service will continue on East Nine Mile at Woodward and Hilton stops, but all other stops are subject to the bus driver's discretion. Bus landings will be available during construction.
Construction Stages
- Stage I: April - early June -- Curbs, drives and first lift of asphalt. Everything between curb and sidewalk will be completed by this time as well.
- Stage II: June - first part of August -- Landscape islands, landscaping, top course of asphalt and pavement markings.
**All construction timeframes are contingent upon weather.
Who to Call?
Non-emergency
Justin Wellman, Giffels-Webster Engineering @ 248-852-3100.
Non-emergency calls will be responded to by the next business day.
Giffels-Webster Inspector Dan Bassett will be on-site daily and will notify businesses when there may be an impact to their business.
Emergency
As always, in the event of an emergency please call either 911 or the Ferndale Police Department on their front desk line at 248-541-3650.
Design Plans
The Importance of Multi-modal
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To improve the quality of life for the residents of Ferndale by offering a variety of viable and safe transportation choices appropriate for residents of all ages and abilities.
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To enhance the local economy by providing the type of transportation choices and physical environment that make a community an attractive place to live, establish a business and visit.
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To strengthen Ferndale's brand as a one of the region's premier walkable bikeable communities.
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To reduce traffic injuries and deaths by improving the safety of the transportation system for all modes.
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To enhance the personal well-being of Ferndale's residents and reduce their health care costs by encouraging physical activity through everyday trips.
