Goodrich- The Heritage Recreation Route, the official name of the revitalized section of M-15 through Goodrich will soon be one of a kind, say transportation officials.
The $545,500 Enhancement Project, to be completed in about three months, involves the installation of historic era lighting, benches, trash receptacles, planters, wildflower beds, pedestrian bridges over the Cartwright Drain, trees, shrubs, and construction of a five foot handicapped pedestrian facility. Funding for the project included $426,400 from the State of Michigan with the balance from both the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Village of Goodrich.
When completed M-15 will be Michigan’s first designated Heritage Recreation Route. In the fall of 1999 and spring of 2000, MDOT completed Phase I of the project and began construction earlier this year on Phase II.
‘M-15 is a widely used state highway that thousands of motorists use every year to go to places like the Thumb. The State Transportation Commission designates these as Recreation Routes for beautification purposes because they are very traveled roads,? said Mike Hemmingsen, Transportation Service Center manager for MDOT.
The project will follow the Village of Goodrich Master Plan and provide residents with a safer environment through the enhancements.
Already completed Phase I of the project included parts of M-15 that were milled and resurfaced, a curb and gutter installation along with a drainage problem corrected. Additional revitalization projects were also completed in 1999 that included the reconstruction of Hegel Road East, the extension of Erie Street and path installations.
‘We aren’t really doing much for the project as far as construction. The construction is done by the State. Our role will be maintaining the sidewalks and putting in the shrubbery and landscaping,? said Ethan Campbell, Goodrich Department of Public Works supervisor.
Campbell said the construction of the sidewalks will connect to those existing near Rhodes Road and will continue on through Mill Pointe Road.
Village administrator, Jakki Sidge, said, ‘The construction is in accordance with the master plan and will incorporate M-15 into more of the village atmosphere. It is the completion to the Enhancement Project.?