GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A busy Grand Rapids intersection has been causing congestion for the community due to construction. But that headache is finally over.
The Michigan Street and Fuller Avenue intersection was closed for more than two weeks while crews worked on emergency sanitary sewer repairs. Tuesday, both directions fully reopened.
But it won't last long. DTE will be completing some monthslong work starting next week that will close one northbound and one southbound lane. A city official says it will only last one week.
Grand Rapids City Engineer Tim Burkman told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that the city replaced around 200 feet of a sanitary sewer main that had multiple breaks in it.
Afendoulis Cleaners and Tuxedos is near the intersection. Co-owner Becky Afendoulis Trierweiler told 13 ON YOUR SIDE her business parking lot was busy during the construction.
"So we did have a lot of traffic, which made for a concerning issue for our customers that were backing out of a lot that normally doesn't get any traffic. There were a few near-miss accidents," said Trierweiler.
Police even ticketed dozens of drivers who cut through parking lots to get around the construction. Trierweiler's store was vandalized along with a few other businesses just last week. She believes the vandals will stop now that the construction is complete.
"No one is going to come here and bang up windows with thousands of cars driving by and we're already seeing you know so many cars," said Trierweiler.
The area had just reopened after a different construction project when the sewer main project closed it again. Trierweiler said the roads re-opening will help many nearby businesses.
"The businesses even closer to the intersection I think have suffered even more than we have because at least we're a little bit off the intersection but those businesses right on the corner are probably thrilled," said Trierweiler.