The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Wal-Mart roadwork encounters roadblocks
New store slated to open next February on Michigan Avenue
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2008
The empty, fenced-in 32-acre site at the corner of State Road and Michigan Avenue looks more like an abandoned parking lot than the bustling retail center most expected to see by this time.
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It has been four years since Pittsfield Township planners began reviewing site plans for a 161,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store near Saline.
The process of obtaining road right-of-way easements for the property adjacent to the site at the corner of State Road and Michigan Avenue is under way and negotiations are expected to end later this month.
"Our specialists are working with various property owners to acquire the easement right-of-way," said Val Cooper, public information officer for the Washtenaw County Road Commission, which is handling the issue on behalf of Michigan Department of Transportation.
MDOT handed over the right-of-way negotiations for Michigan Avenue to the county, where an experienced team from the engineering department can focus on the issue, Cooper said. Right-of-way is needed at the site for easements, sidewalks and driveways connecting the shopping area to public roadways.
The Brighton Transportation Service Center of MDOT has approved nearly all the roadwork under its jurisdiction, including drainage, turn tapers and entry and access routes.
"The plans have progressed and we anticipate wrapping things up in the next few weeks," MDOT project engineer Larry Dropiewski said last week. "The drainage has been redesigned and a utility coordination meeting is scheduled within the week."
Nicholas Infante, Wal-Mart's public affairs senior manager, said bidding process for construction of the supercenter will begin in May and will be reviewed in early July. A February 2009 opening is expected.
Road work near the site along Michigan Avenue will start this summer. Drivers can expect lane closures during widening.
State Street Crossing, the retail center nearly complete at the west corner of the Wal-Mart site, is not affected by the current roadwork negotiations since that property is owned by Regency developers.
Wings, Pizza 'N Things, a locally-owned family sports bar, is set to open there May 12.
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