Projects

Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI

Shoreline Drive was proposed to provide improved access to the lakeshore area of Muskegon and to Muskegon’s new downtown currently in the design phase. Shoreline Drive is located in downtown Muskegon, Michigan, a Lake Michigan shoreline City of some 41, 000 residents.  In terms of population, the City of Muskegon is the largest municipality in Muskegon County and it is projected to remain so according to the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission.

The project consisted of constructing over 3,800 feet of 5 lane mainline road, with an average width of 60 feet, relocation of approximately 3,900 feet of CSX Railroad thru Muskegon, which included construction of a new railroad bridge over Ryerson Creek.  Construction of a major rail crossing at Terrace Ave was part of the railroad track relocation.

Shoreline drive was constructed across sensitive environmental sites and included construction of a wetland between the relocated rail tracks and the new roadway. Construction of Shoreline drive included a new highway bridge over Ryerson Creek.  Arch spans were used for both the highway and railroad bridges.

The proposed improvements included several construction activities in addition to a roadway.  These included the realignment of an existing CSX railroad track, the construction of water and sewer lines that connected to existing facilities, the construction of a roadway connection to Terrace Street near Western Avenue, bridge structures, landscaping and signage.  The acquisition of private property was necessary as a part of the proposed activities.

Relocation of numerous utilities were required to complete the project and included 4,400 feet of 12-inch water mains, a 42-inch gravity sanitary sewer which required stop bladders, deeper excavation and sheet piling, overhead electric and phone, underground gas and telephone, cable television.

The transportation aspect was critical to the downtown area of Muskegon during construction.  The new construction could not shut off the businesses in the downtown area and the new trunk line is anticipated to carry over 22,000 vehicles per day. Access to the heavily used farmers market and downtown Muskegon was required at all times during construction. The project included two signalized intersection with left and right turns.

HISTORY OF THE PROJECT

A portion of roadway called Terrace Street was constructed in 1975-76 north of the Muskegon Mall, and the Terrace Plaza office building that was built with federal assistance for the U.S. Economic Development Administration.  This boulevard road commenced at Fourth Street near the L.C. Walker Arena and looped around the mall on the north connecting with Apple Avenue (M-46) just beyond City Hall.  Little use of this roadway resulted especially north of the Muskegon Mall because the road failed to provide a direct connection to US-31 Business Route (BR-31) or provide improved access to private properties.

In 1990, the City of Muskegon received a funding commitment from the Michigan Department of Transportation to construct another portion of the Terrace roadway, west of Fourth Street connecting with BR-31.  The “Terrace Connector” project improved access to Muskegon Lake shoreline properties and downtown Muskegon.