Construction ahead of schedule
By Michael H. Babcock, DMG WriterHOUGHTON - It was business as usual for Project Superintendent Mike Momont and Bacco Construction, Inc. of Iron Mountain this past week.
Progress on the downtown Houghton streetscape remains ahead of schedule. For the third straight block, crews began work on the next city block ahead of expectations.
In May, after completing everything but the brick pavers on the first block, Bacco started the removal process on the third block. In June, the crew did the same thing with the fourth block. Now, Bacco is excavating the 500 block, while the 300 block is awaiting brick pavers.
"We're ahead of schedule. I don't think anyone wants to see us wait for the brick pavers to be done before we move on to the next block," said Momont. "It will only get the project done faster if we move into the next block."
Bacco started the removal process on the fifth block Monday and will have the majority of the removal work done by the end of the week. Coal bins have slowed their progress.
"This block has the highest amount of coal bins of the entire project," Momont said.
There are six bins on the block, four on the north side and two on the south.
"They aren't just small ones either, they go the whole length of the building," Momont said.
Because of the bins, crews are dealing with the sidewalks differently.
"We're pulling sidewalks off one side of the street at a time," Momont said. "We left the sidewalk on the south side of the road because there are coal bins in front of the Bookworld and Douglass House. We're going to get all our work done on the north side and get temporary sidewalk up before we move to the south side."
Fortunately for Bacco, there isn't a lot of rock under the road on this block.
"There is a little bit of rock in front of the Lode Theater, but it seems all right," Momont said. "We're going to run into it at some point, but we're just hoping it doesn't get here until after the parking deck."
Traffic could be allowed to travel on the third block as soon as Friday. Crews from Arrow Construction, Inc. of Negaunee planned to begin work on the brick pavers this morning and Momont said they hope to be done by Friday.
Also, the fourth block is nearly complete. Momont said they will be placing sand and gravel on the block with hopes of installing brick pavers next week.
On the fifth block, after the removal is complete, Bacco will work on water and sewer work this week.
Concert Thursday
U.P. Rising, a classic rock band, will perform on the 500 block of Shelden Avenue as part of the Downtown Shelden Avenue Thursday Concert Series. The performance, presented by Armando's Douglass House Saloon, is free and goes from 6 to 9 p.m.
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.
