Farm Lane construction delays completion until fall

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The multimillion-dollar Farm Lane underpass project, originally set for completion this summer, will not be completed until the fall but will not exceed the original budget, university officials said.

The project, which began in spring 2008 and was expected to conclude by August, will not be finished until the end of September, said Kari Arend, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Continued construction will affect both regular and football game-day campus traffic in the fall. University and state officials said a combination of weather delays and the late arrival of structural steel beams early in the project caused the setback.

“Overall, everybody is basically anxious to get this project wrapped up and completed, so we’re doing everything we can to kind of move this project forward as much as possible,” she said.

In spite of these delays, the project is not expected to incur any additional costs because money in the original budget was allotted to deal with unforeseen circumstances, university engineer Robert Nestle said. Out of the total project cost of $42.5 million, about $7.8 million was appropriated for these costs.

“There is a contingency on every construction project for the sole purpose of paying for unanticipated costs,” Nestle said.

For some staff and students, the construction has been a yearlong headache. Michelle Roth, an animal science junior who parks in the commuter lot and rides a bus into campus said the construction has affected her schedule.

“I really have to watch my time between going to work and getting to class on time because the bus takes an extra 20 minutes,” she said. “I’m late for work sometimes because of the bus routes.”

Roth, who walked to campus from the commuter lot prior to the construction, said she is waiting for the road to open because that option will once again be available.

“I really like the idea that they’re trying to make it easier for us to get onto campus without getting stopped by trains,” she said. “It’s good they’re opening it up for more pedestrian availability so we don’t have to ride the (Capital Area Transportation Authority) bus and deal with traffic.”

It’s that emphasis on increased safety and accessibility that officials have continued to herald.

“The biggest benefit will be in terms of safety and convenience,” Arend said. “We’ll be adding bike passes and sidewalks, so it’ll be a lot easier for anyone walking or biking along that path.”

Nestle also said students and staff can expect route options to increase regardless of the construction, as Service Road is expected to open prior to the start of fall classes.

“The construction has gotten to the point where there is very little unexpected or undiscovered things,” Nestle said.

“It’s a matter of finishing the work.”

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