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By Mark Constance
NORTHEAST MICHIGAN – Multiple road projects on M-55 are scheduled to begin in July, with work planned in Tawas City and West Branch.
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), it plans to extend the center left-turn lane on M-55 from Wilber Road to the Tawas River in Tawas City. The project will also repave the road in that area.
The work is intended to improve traffic flow and safety on a congested stretch of M-55. Extending the center left-turn lane will give drivers a safer place to wait while turning, helping reduce backups and the risk of rear-end crashes. Repaving the road will also improve the driving surface for motorists.
Work is set to begin Tuesday, July 7, and completed Sept. 4. MDOT said the project will require shoulder closures and single-lane closures with alternating traffic.
A second project in Ogemaw County will improve the shared-use path along M-55 in West Branch from east of Green Road to east of Gray Road.
MDOT will invest $678,770 in the project. Ogemaw Township has contributed $35,000 for decorative pedestrian rails at various locations along the project.
The West Branch work is designed to improve safety and access for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users along the M-55 corridor. Shared-use paths help separate people from vehicle traffic and provide a safer route for residents and visitors traveling through the area.
West Branch work is scheduled to start July 6 and be completed by Sept. 11. MDOT said the project will require shoulder closures during construction.
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