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Wightman Project Updates

Red Arrow Highway Union Pier Corridor Improvements Project

Important Update

Work for the construction season is wrapping up on Red Arrow Highway and Town Line Avenue. Please be alert for traffic pattern changes. 

  1. Pavement markings on Red Arrow Highway are in the 3 lane configuration.
  2. Traffic control devices will remain near Berrien Street to the north as work on the sanitary sewer job is ongoing.
  3. Please use caution as motorists adapt to the new lane configuration
  4. Paving is NOT entirely complete for the road job. An additional layer of asphalt will be paved on all roadway surfaces in the spring. This results in the gutter height being approximately 2 inches higher than the roadway for now.
  5. Work will resume in the spring of 2021 including sidewalk, the non-motorized path, landscaping and final paving.

Thank you for your continued patience and support. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.


Project Updates

Most recent project updates to be added here including dates and times of upcoming sessions, etc.  

Current status: Project construction started Monday August 17, see phase details below.  

To be added to a list to receive an email when this site is updated, please email with the subject of Red Arrow Highway-Union Pier.

Please note:  this website is specific to the road and streetscape project. For information for the sanitary sewer project being done by GRSD Sewer Authority, please visit this site. 

recent construction photos


2020 Construction season-phases 

This project will be broken into 2 major phases for the remainder of the 2020 Construction Season. See image below. Also here is a PDF of the image shared below.


Phase 1 (August 17 – early October)

  • Construction along the east side (existing northbound) lanes of Red Arrow Highway and the intersection at Union Pier Road
  • One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Red Arrow Highway in the existing southbound lanes (please note that this matches the current traffic patterns established by the sanitary sewer project in this corridor)
  • Union Pier Road will be restricted to one-lane for a period of time during this phase while the intersection is reconstructed
  • This phase has two subphases, and there will be at traffic switch in mid September. Further details will be provided as this date approaches.


Phase 2 (Early October – Mid November)

  • Construction along the west side of Red Arrow Hwy and on Town Line Avenue
  • One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Red Arrow Highway in the newly constructed lanes along the east side.
  • There will be traffic restrictions on Town Line Avenue


This schedule has been determined for this construction year only. Work is anticipated in the spring of 2021, and a schedule will be provided for that work at a later time.


Items anticipated to be completed by the end of November 2020

  • All road work and paving
  • New curb and gutter
  • Installation of storm structures


Items anticipated to be completed in the Spring of 2021

  • Concrete sidewalks and ramps
  • Non-motorized pathway
  • Streetscaping items including plants, trees, and furnishings

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION PRESENTATION MATERIALS

A public information session took place on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at New Buffalo Township Hall. The following information was presented at the session. Here are the slides presented by the County Engineer that evening.  Presentation.pdf


Here are maps shared at the meeting, please note file size is large. 

Draft- Full Project Overview.pdf

Draft - Overview Utilities.pdf

Draft- Overview Intersections.pdf

Draft-Streetscape Overview.pdf

Draft-Streetscape Details.pdf


The Public Meeting received nice coverage in Harbor Country News. 


PROJECT OVERVIEW 

The Berrien County Road Department has worked closely with New Buffalo Township and Chikaming Township to develop visioning plans for this project. They will continue to work together during design and construction to ensure the project is a success for all involved. Following is a brief project overview.

Project limits

  •  Red Arrow Highway from Community Hall Road to Berrien Street
  • Union Pier Road/Town Line Ave approximately 350 feet west of intersection


Roadway features

  • Reconstruction and streetscaping at the intersection with Union Pier Rd/Townline Rd
  • Mill and Resurface from Community Hall Road to Union Pier Self Storage and from Goodwin to Berrien Street
  • A three lane section, including a dedicated center left turn lane for business access


Pedestrian features

  • Sidewalk for pedestrian access at and around the intersection of Red Arrow Hwy and Union Pier Rd
  • An activated pedestrian crossing system for East-West crossing of Red Arrow Hwy
  • A 10 foot wide non-motorized path extending from Community Hall Road to Berrien Street


Additional features

  • A new public restroom facility
  • Improved stormwater infrastructure in the intersection
  • Additional parking areas for access to shops and restaurants


Below is a rendering of concepts. 


PROJECT NEED

The primary need to be addressed by this project is improving safety along this section of the Red Arrow Highway corridor for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. With many popular restaurants, cafes, and shops along the corridor, the project will provide a safe, walkable space to access and enjoy the vibrant local community. The corridor has been reimagined to include sidewalk, a non-motorized path, and various other streetscape elements at the intersection of Red Arrow Highway and Union Pier Road. In addition, Red Arrow Highway from Community Hall Road to Berrien Street will be converted from a four lane to a three lane section with a dedicated center left turn lane.


business owner information

Business owners will be receiving email correspondence with individual access information by mid-November. To reassure you are on this list, please email with the subject of Red Arrow Highway-Union Pier. Please also include the address and name of your business in the request.

SCHEDULE 

30% Plan Completion                                                August 29, 2019

Business owner access meetings                             September 2019

60% Plan Completion                                                October 11, 2019

Business owner access review                                  November 2019

90% Plan Completion                                                December 6, 2019

Submittal to MDOT                                                    January 17, 2020

Final Plan Submission to MDOT                             March 27, 2020

MDOT Letting Date                                                   July 10, 2020

Construction Start Date                                           August 17, 2020

Construction Completion                                  Fall 2021


Recent Media Coverage on the Project

Spirit of Cooperation by Harbor Country News-August 30, 2020

It is finally happening-New Buffalo Times-August 30, 2020

Infrastructure Improvements Hailed at Groundbreaking-HeraldPalladium_20200828.pdf

Red Arrow Highway Receiving Improvements-WNDU-August 28, 2020

Chikaming Board gets update on Union Pier-August 21, 2020

Groundbreaking Slated for Major Improvements-Moody on the Market-August 20, 2020

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions or concerns can be addressed to any of the following via email or phone:

Melanie Stanage, P.E. Wightman
Email Melanie
Office: 269.927.0010
Direct: 269.487.9778


Kevin Stack, P.E. Berrien County Road Department  
Email Kevin
Office: (269) 925-1196 Ext: 4421