07/22/2020
US-23 is scheduled for closure in Harrisville early 2021 and well into the summer which will likely take longer as road projects seldom are completed within the allotted timeframe. This is detrimental to our area which relies heavily on summer tourism. While we understand this roadwork is much needed, there is a better way and time to do it.
• MDOT is currently NOT planning to keep one lane open but rather a full closure with limited access.
• If MDOT were to start such a road project immediately after Labor Day and keep one lane open it would be more advantageous to our entire county and protect our vital tourist season while still allowing time to complete before winter.
The past months have been an enormous hardship for businesses in our community. Due to less business this summer, businesses will have less reserve heading into the winter which creates more challenges. The possibility of impending closures in the coming months adds to this further.
This closure essentially cuts off Harrisville completely as the preferred travel path will be to take M-65 vs coming up to M-72 to be detoured. Additionally, businesses such as Alcona Brew Haus and Northeastern Window and Door are cut off completely. What exactly will happen to our businesses? This is not possible to withstand and it is likely Alcona Brew Haus will close altogether. Harrisville Harbor Grocery and the Laundry Mat will likely soon follow as we have been subsidizing these businesses for years and they are all interlinked to work together.
We are asking each of you to reach out to MDOT and try to protect Harrisville, Alcona County, and the businesses within.
Virtual public meeting scheduled to discuss 2021 US-23 project north of Harrisville
WHAT:
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will have a Teams Live virtual public meeting to discuss a 2021 project on US-23 north of Harrisville.
WHO:
MDOT Alpena Transportation Service Center (TSC) staff
Interested residents, commuters and business owners
WHEN:
Thursday, July 23, 2020 3 - 4 p.m.
WHERE:
https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2f_%23%2fl%2fmeetup-join%2f19%3ameeting_ODAxYjE2ZmMtNDRkZS00ZmYyLTllMzgtNzNiMWQyODYxOTZm%40thread.v2%2f0%3fcontext%3d%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522d5fb7087-3777-42ad-966a-892ef47225d1%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%25222e88ba6a-71af-4c27-b246-c93c7257675c%2522%252c%2522IsBroadcastMeeting%2522%253atrue%257d%26anon%3dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=1f1e9e65-17c6-4db7-880e-327ea99170da&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true
How to attend a live event in Teams
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/attend-a-live-event-in-teams-a1c7b989-ebb1-4479-b750-c86c9bc98d84?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us
Copies of the meeting transcript and presentation will be available by mail. Call 517-335-4381 or e-mail [email protected] to request a copy.
Accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking ability. Large print materials, auxiliary aids or the services of interpreters, signers, or readers are available upon request. Please call 517-335-4381 to request at least seven days before meeting date.
BACKGROUND:
MDOT plans to invest roughly $5 million to reconstruct a 2-mile section of US-23 from south of Washington Street to south of Lakeshore Drive in Harrisville and Haynes Townships in Alcona County. The project will include new road base and asphalt pavement, drainage improvements, commercial driveway upgrades, slope restoration, and pavement markings.
This work will require a detour for US-23 traffic for much of the project using M-72, Barlow Road and F-41, in agreement with the Village of Lincoln and the Alcona County Road Commission. Access to businesses and residences in the construction zone will be maintained.
Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2021 with the road reopened to traffic by the Fourth of July holiday.
