My guess is that drainage issues may be the reason why it's never been done. There are environmental considerations that enter the picture because it's part of a floodplain. There are spots in Eaton County that flood for weeks at a time, and have for years, but they have never done anything because they are roads through the middle of marshlands.
I am wondering what effect the new drain system and the small lake will have on this area? I am hoping that they will help to stop flooding, I think it would be beneficial to build a better drain system under the road or by building an elevated roadway so the water could flow under. At my cabin several years ago the state built a new culvert drain then elevated and paved that section of road, this was to stop dirt and dust from the former dirt road and low bridge from getting into the trout stream that flows behind the cabin and into the AuSable River. I think this small section of Kalamazoo Street runs through three different municipalities, that is part of the problem in this area I am sure. I have also read where there are old-growth trees still standing in that swamp, it would be cool to have a boardwalk pathway through there so we could visit those trees.
Looks like the city planted a bunch of trees along the south side of Marshall Park, running along Saginaw highway. It's going to take a while but it should make that area much nicer with the added shade. Here is to hoping people don't vandalize and pull out the trees and give them time to grow!
Yeah, they're really moving quickly on this project. I always wished they'd incorporate some better decorative elements, particularly as 496 runs through Lansing proper. Like maybe a 3-6' retaining wall along this section to better separate the grassy, wooded hillsides. And some large automotive themed signs and sculptures along the median to highlight Lansing's manufacturing history, especially as 496 runs right by the GM plant that's been there in some form for 100+ years.
I'm guessing that they're close to switching sides, I noticed them setting up the electronic signs (reading just dots right now) and tons of barrels along the sides of the westbound lanes.
I was hoping they will do something with the landscaping too. In Detroit, they landscaped the rebuilt parts of I-96 [I could be wrong on the highway number] very nicely with nice-looking walls, large plantings of shrubs and trees near overpasses, and exits. I think it would be very cool if they planted hundreds of trees along the ground level medians from Grand Ave to Clare Street, this would beautify the corridor help reduce pollution and noise, and make bordering properties more valuable. I have had this idea of an outdoor art project that would illuminate the line of the huge steel power poles that now line the south side of the highway with solar-powered lights. The poles are really ugly as they are but lit up at night they could be sculptural and interesting to look at. Lights changing for the seasons or promoting a cause or event could change ugly to beautiful, kind of like how people feel about the three stacks. Just dreaming!
I was talking about the areas at ground level [city street level on the leftsides] along M.X. and St Joe. There are some trees there now, I think it would be a good place for a linear forest that could really change the landscape helped to reduce pollution. I course I would not expect them to be planting trees in the center medians! I was kind of brainstorming about what could be done with the highway landscape but I have no expectations that they will do anything new or different in that regard.
When 496 was first built that bridge was about the only cool feature then, at the time after all those years of destruction and construction, our fabulous road to the future looked just like any other interstate highway which was a let down to me. I was young I believed the hype I guess! It would be nice if they made the road as look nice as they did in Detroit, we are the Capital City.
I was wondering when the downtown street directions are going to be changed back to two-way streets? I saw a new traffic light [I can't recall which corner] and some orange barrels downtown the other day.
It seems like this would be a good time to make these changes, as people slowly come back to work they could get used to the new configurations without a lot of traffic and the city could make the changes without as much disruption. They never ask me about these things.
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I was wondering when the downtown street directions are going to be changed back to two-way streets? I saw a new traffic light [I can't recall which corner] and some orange barrels downtown the other day.