A driver violates the street closure after driving between the barricades.
SCOTTVILLE — After nearly a month of drivers disregarding “road closed to local traffic” signs on Johnson Road, the City of Scottville has doubled down on barricading the local street. Currently US 10 west of Main Street is closed due to replacement of a water main. The official detour is Main Street/Scottville Road north to US 31 for westbound State Street/US 10 traffic and US 31 north to Scottville Road/Main Street for eastbound traffic. However, several thousand drivers each day have decided to, instead, cut across Johnson Road, though the road has been marked with “road closed” signs.
Interim City Manager Clarence Goodlein said the Scottville Department of Public Works added more barricades today, Monday, Aug. 11, to re-emphasize the street’s closure.
“The road was closed after consideration of the risk that the increased traffic posed to accidents occurring at the intersection of Johnson Road and the US-31 bypass,” Goodlein said. “This occurred after weekend reports of a traffic accident and near serious traffic accidents at this location that were reported to city personnel by citizens as well as an off-duty public safety official. The ineffectiveness of hitherto closing the road to thru traffic contributed to the decision as did experiences when signs notifying drivers of Johnson Road being closed to thru traffic were found moved or tuned over so that they could not be viewed.
“Both personnel from MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) and deputies of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office agreed that the complete closing of Johnson Road could improve traffic and public safety. In this regard, MDOT has closed the right turning lane from the northbound US-31 bypass at Johnson Road to facilitate the road closure.”
Additionally, city officials have stated that Johnson Road in not a primary road and was not constructed to withstand heavy traffic, especially from commercial vehicles.
Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said deputies from the sheriff’s office and Michigan State Police troopers have increased patrols of the detour area. Drivers are also being asked to respect the speed limits through the city which are 30 mph and 25 mph, and to stop at stop signs.
Though additional barricades were installed, drivers were still being observed violating the closure today. See video.
MCP was informed by a Scottville official that repaving of State Street/US 10 should begin in about three weeks. However, construction of the water main on east State Street is set to begin soon. This will mean an additional detour route.
The water main project is being completely funded by an $8.7 million from a Drinking Water State Revolving Grant (DWSRF) obtained from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
Water mains being replaced include those under portions of State Street (US 10), Elm Street, Crowley Street, Blain Street, Paul Street, Broadway Avenue, James Street, Columbia Avenue, Gay Street, Beryl Street, and Maple Street. Additionally, new mains that would complete loops are planned for East Second Street and East Fifth Street.
About 10 years ago, water mains were replaced on Main Street and several of the west-bound streets along Main Street.
The water main project. The only change is the project has been scaled back on State Steet, now ending at Columbia Avenue rather than High Street.
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