COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Union road construction workers are getting back to work in Michigan but a major road construction project in Branch County may still be in limbo.
In a statement Thursday Governor Rick Snyder announced that “Work will begin on Michigan’s road projects immediately now that the contractors’ association and operating engineers’ union has agreed to continue working without a contract through the 2018 construction season.”
About 150 road projects, including the Business Loop I-69 project in Branch County, were halted due to labor disputes between the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and Operating Engineers Local 324.
MITA has agreed to end their three week old lockout while OE 324 will have their members report to work immediately.
But the Business Loop I-69 work may have to wait as the immediate priority for the resumption of work will be the projects that can be completed prior to significant winter weather arriving.
Aside from crews patching the road surface almost two weeks ago, none of the scheduled repaving work has been done to the four mile stretch of BL-69. Eventually, work will be performed from the Fenn Road exit north to Pierce Street in Coldwater.
The project was originally scheduled to start August 13t. It will take just over two months to finish.
