New stormwater culverts will replace those with structural damage, create systems that meet environmental guidelines
As part of infrastructure improvements on the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunity and Recreation (MAJOR) Campus, upgrades are planned to two stormwater culverts to make structural improvements and meet environmental requirements.
Work is expected to begin the week of Monday, March 18, and continue through April. The culverts are located under railroad lines south of the future BlueOval Battery Park Michigan and north of the Kalamazoo River between C Drive North and 15 Mile Road.
This work will provide much needed improvements to the culverts, which are blocked by sediment and debris and appear to have structural challenges. New culverts will meet extensive stormwater requirements laid out by the city of Marshall, Calhoun County, Amtrak, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
“We are excited to see these important water infrastructure improvements take shape,” said Jim Durian, CEO of Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA).
Heavy equipment, including excavators and front-end loaders, will perform work on both sides of the tracks and material, including stone, gravel, pipe and concrete, will be transported to construction sites. Construction work is scheduled to take place 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Because of this work, the rail line will close to allow a section of track, ties and other material to be removed. After new culverts and storm water pipes are installed and properly graded, soil will be filled in and the sections of railroad will be rebuilt.
The rail line is tentatively scheduled to be closed Tuesday-Wednesday, April 16-17, and construction work will be continuous during that period. The tentative schedule currently calls for construction work to start at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, and continue through to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17. Inclement weather could impact the tentative closure dates. The around-the-clock construction effort is needed to limit the amount of time that the railroad is closed.
This construction is expected to generate noise and vibrations that may be noticeable several hundred feet from the work area. Because of the around-the-clock work, the sites will be illuminated to ensure worker safety.
Before work begins, erosion controls, such as silt fencing, will be installed. The area under the railroads has large boulders, which requires new culverts to be installed using a method that digs a trench, lays the storm water gathering system and then replaces the surface area.
“These are critical upgrades that will benefit the health of our community and help our ongoing efforts to protect our lakes, rivers and streams for future generations,” Durian said.