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[Southsider2k12]

The latest construction update from NICTD

"MICHIGAN CITY – 10TH AND 11TH STREET AREA
Comcast is anticipating work at Sheridan Ave to be completed by April 1. Additional aerial cable and underground work between Lafayette and Phillips streets should be completed by April 1. Comcast utility work may involve short-term street closures, travel lane restrictions, and flagging.

NIPSCO’s gas team should complete work on gas service lines around Willard and 10th St. by mid-March.
NIPSCO’s electric team should complete work at Sheridan Ave by the end of April.

Real estate acquisition is complete.

Demolition of structures is 95% complete to date in Michigan City. Properties are being boarded up and managed by NICTD’s contractor. All of the residential structures will be demolished by the end of March.
The historic 11th Street station has been demolished and foundation removal is complete. The block is fenced and portions of the sidewalk are closed to allow for continuing work. Pedestrians must use the south side of 11th Street.

Construction on 11th Street began February 28, 2022, which included a full closure of 11th St itself. The project provides weekly updates to Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry and city staff including police, fire and county emergency response teams, to ensure everyone is prepared for upcoming work. Michigan City residents can expect north/south street closures that progress westward as construction advances, with signage indicating which streets will be closed. Residents, businesses and other property owners are also being notified of any work that will impact ingress/egress for their particular site.
Additional road closure details:

On February 28, 2022, Walsh/Herzog (WH) closed 11th Street from Chicago Street to Michigan Boulevard. This closure is required to build the two new South Shore Line tracks, create an isolated railroad right-of-way, and improve public safety along 10th and 11th streets.

Pursuant to the 2016 Agreement with Michigan City, the intersection of 11th Street with the following streets will be permanently closed and configured into cul-de-sacs in accordance with the final, approved design.

- Elston Street
- Manhattan Street
- Buffalo Street
- Pine Street
- Spring Street
- Cedar Street
- York Street
- Maple Street

The intersection of 11th Street with the following streets will only be closed as required to construct the work across the intersections.

- Chicago Street
- Ohio Street
- Wabash Street
- Washington Street
- Franklin Street
- Lafayette Street
- Oak Street

It is currently anticipated that two closures of each of these intersections will be required with each closure lasting approximately two to three weeks.

To maintain traffic flow in the north south direction past 11th Street, the following constraints will be implemented by Walsh/Herzog:

Tennessee St will remain open when Ohio St is closed until the Ohio Street crossing is re-opened.
The intersections of Wabash St, Washington St, and Franklin St will only be closed one at a time.
The intersections of Lafayette St and Oak St will also only be closed one at a time.
Michigan Boulevard will remain open throughout the duration of the project.

The intersections at 11th and Franklin were converted from a stoplight to a stop sign configuration during construction. Construction on 10th Street will occur to the south of the existing roadway, where the two new tracks will be installed. At the completion of the work, the current tracks down 10th Street will be removed and the roadway repaired.

Larson-Danielson Construction was awarded the contract to remove the façade from the historic station building on 11th and Franklin streets. It has been removed, and is being repaired and stored for future re-erection onto the large 11th Street Station and parking structure. The City is currently working with Flaherty & Collins, a developer, to evaluate alternative Transit Oriented Development (TOD) options for the block bounded by 10th, 11th, Franklin and Pine. Plans for that development are in progress. Questions should be directed to the City of Michigan City for the TOD effort.

NICTD has provided the City of Michigan City with an emergency response contact list. Emergencies should be reported using 911. "

[Southsider2k12]

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...d55ad1ce81.html

The City Council approved $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help create a quiet zone along the South Shore Line route through the city.

Engineers will still sound their horns if they see anything dangerous, Councilwoman Tracie Tillman, D-5th, said.

Resident Tommy Kulavik, a frequent South Shore rider, warned against creating the quiet zone. “I think with quiet zones we’re going to see an increase in accidents,” he said.

With City Council action to create a quiet zone, and Federal Railroad Administration approval, improvements will be made at grade crossings to deter vehicles from crossing the tracks when a train is coming. Those can include a raised median between lanes and crossarms that extend all the way across the road. Closing a crossing is an option, too.

“We can only go so far as far as the guardrail can be,” Tillman said. Each crossing is evaluated separately to determine the best way to handle vehicle traffic.

Resident Rodney McCormick advised against closing crossings. “As public servants, shouldn’t you listen to the public?” he asked. “These people vote for you.”

“This is not closing down Holliday Street,” Councilman Bryant Dabney, D-1st, said. “The crossings are going to be safe so they can be quiet zones.”

“You cannot take your car and jump over the median to get around the rail,” he added.

The Double Track NWI project includes improvements at grade crossings to qualify for a quiet zone on the western side of the city. The council’s recent 6-0 vote means the remaining crossings, outside the project’s boundaries, will also be improved.

In other action, Council Vice President Don Przybylinski, D-at large, blasted Mayor Duane Parry for not attending the council’s latest meeting to provide an update on the status of street and sidewalk repairs.

“At least show the council some respect to come and discuss the item” as Przybylinski requested, he said.

Other cities have already begun that work, Przybylinski observed. “To me, the city’s behind the 8-ball in this whole thing.”

[diggler]

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...d55ad1ce81.html

Hope the hell I never have to go through there.