Fenton Road Projects Begin Today

The weather is warming up. That means construction crews are ready to hit the roads.

In Fenton, drivers will notice changes today as work begins on the Adelaide Street water main project. Walnut Street improvements will begin next week.

The will replace a 12-inch, cast iron water main with a new ductile iron water main along Adelaide and North Roads from South Holly Road to Oak Park. 

The section of the water system is susceptible to breaks and is a link between the water treatment plant and the storage tanks. The project will be constructed in two phases. The first phase began at the end of July from South Holly Road to Silver Lake Road. Phase 2 begins Monday from Silver Lake Road to Oak Park.

If all goes well, the project should be completed by Labor Day, said Dan Czarnecki, director of the Fenton Department of Public Works.

Along with the water main replacement, the roadway along Adelaide will be repaved. Sidewalk ramps will be replaced to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The width of North Road will be resurfaced from Adelaide to Oak Park.

Czarnecki said the road won't be closed, but residents are encouraged to find alternate routes.

"Workers will be flagging traffic, but its going to be the normal dusty, dirty construction site," Czarnecki said. "There will be some traffic headaches."

He advised those going to and school to enter from Lincoln and Jefferson Streets.

There will be times when people in the area are without water as they are connected to the new water main, Czarnecki added.

"That should be minimal," he said.

The project will include the installation of a 400-foot water main connection from the Whisperwood Condominiums to the adjacent subdivision to create a looped water system. The construction cost is estimated to be $2.25 million.  

Next week, city crews will begin reconstructing roadway on Walnut Street between Ellen Street and Silver Lake Road.

Also, Ellen and Caroline Streets will be resurfaced with complete removal and replacement of the roadway between Caroline and Silver Lake Road.

The project will be closed to through traffic, but access to the residences and businesses will be provided. Select portions of the curb and gutter will be removed and replaced. Sections of sidewalk will be upgraded to meet ADA requirements.

During this time, access to driveways may be prohibited for several days while the concrete cures. The project is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day.

"It shouldn’t affect too many people," Czarnecki said. "We are taking off street surface, putting down new one. It's just a few driveways; everyone else has other access."

The estimated construction cost for the road improvements is $203,000. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Genesee County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) provide construction funding for this project.