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The Houghton city council is expected to extend the deadline for completion of the College Avenue construction project tonight.
The original contract had called for work to be completed by now. While traffic is expected to return to normal very soon, some work will need to be put off until next spring.
Reasons for the delay included an existing sewer line that was in worse condition than anticipated and had to be replaced, and unexpected encounters with rock structures and an old mine shaft.
Because the delays were not the fault of the contractor, the city will be absorbing some extra cost.
The paving project is being coordinated by the Michigan Department of Transportation, because College Avenue is part of US-41. The water and sewer upgrades are city projects, and are being mostly paid for by federal grant money.
The council is expected to consider contracting with U.P. Engineers and Architects to oversee demolition of the big downtown parking deck and rehabilitation of the property. That work will likely begin next spring.
The council is also scheduled to review the proposed new contract with Waste Management for trash and recycling collection in the city.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 5:30 at the City Center.
See the agenda and related documents here.
