City invests in roads and water mains to keep neighborhoods in good shape

One big project is Morley Avenue later this summer; others to start this spring

Like many homeowners, city officials from the Public Works Department also make careful plans for improvement projects during the warm weather season.

The Morley Avenue reconstruction project will start this summer and will continue, in phases, until next year. The work list includes storm sewer separation, some sanitary sewer replacement, water main replacement, pavement reconstruction and sidewalk repair, as needed.

Residents on and around the Morley project will experience improved water pressure/volume and a decreased possibility of basement sewage backups.
The project will also mean the elimination of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfall 20, where raw sewage dumps into the Rouge River during heavy rains. This portion of job, which is federally mandated, is one of many facilities being built along the Rouge to help restore the river’s ecosystem and enhance its use as a recreational resource.

The beginning of the first phase of the Morley project is expected to start in June or July and will run from Howe to Military. The second portion of that phase, which stretches from Monroe to Brady, is currently under design by engineers and is expected to start in August, after the annual Homecoming celebration.

City Engineer Godfrey Udoji said that many factors were involved in planning the Morley project, including the school summer vacation, the Homecoming celebration in August and the nearby CSO project that is already in progress.
“Pedestrian safety is a big concern. There are some schools in the area so we want to start after the schools are out for year,” Udoji said. “But we still highly recommend that parents and grandparents do not allow children to come wandering around the work area because they can get hurt.”

Other Dearborn projects that are slated for the upcoming year include:

• Beech, Porter, Elm and Snow reconstruction, east of Monroe. This project is scheduled to start in June and will include storm sewer separation, sanitary sewer replacement, water main replacement, pavement reconstruction, including drive aprons, and sidewalk repair as needed.
  
• Water main replacement, Phase I. Scheduled to start at the end of April, the following is the list of impacted streets: Raymond (Outer Drive to Carlysle), Walnut (Outer Drive to Snow), Chestnut (Outer Drive to Snow), Willow (Outer Drive to Snow) and Linden (Ash to Snow).
  
• Water main replacement, Phase II, supported by block grants, scheduled to start this summer with work on the following streets: Oakman (Warren to Tireman), Hartwell, (Warren to Tireman), Jonathan, (Warren to Morrow Circle South) and Dearborn (Dix to Miller Road).
  
• Asphalt resurfacing, to begin in May, on the following streets: Oakman (Warren to Tireman), Shady Hallow, Berkley (Meridan to Cherry Hill), Hartwell (Warren to Tireman) and Jonathan (Warren to Morrow Circle South).
  
• Wayne County officials have also planned some projects for this year, including Oakwood reconstruction, from Park to Michigan, which has already begun. Hubbard Drive will be resurfaced from Evergreen to the Southfield Freeway, and Mercury Drive will be resurfaced from Hubbard Drive to Ford Road.