Temporary headache = a better tomorrow?

Matt Whetstone | Cadillac News Precia Garland, Cadillac assistant city manager, talks about the changes taking place on Mitchell Street Friday.

CADILLAC — Soon enough, Cadillac City Manager Pete Stalker could masquerade as a Superman-esque character to ease the burden of a major Mitchell Street reconstruction.

Giving Stalker an alter ego, the Mitchell Makeover Man, is just one idea being kicked around to make a summer of construction a little less painless for downtown Cadillac businesses and shoppers.

Cadillac Assistant City Manager Precia Garland laid out the plans Friday during the Lecture Luncheon Series, sponsored by the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce and Baker College.

Don’t worry though; the work isn’t scheduled to begin until 2009.

However, once work does begin, it will affect 1.6 miles of Cadillac’s main thoroughfare. Besides physical improvements to downtown Cadillac, the Michigan Department of Transportation is essentially resurfacing the entire stretch.

Here’s how things break down:

From Chapin to River Street, MDOT will grind up and replace three-and-a-half inches of asphalt and replace curbs.

From Pearl Street to Chapin, MDOT will completely reconstruct the road surface. The Maple Hill section will be resurfaced with concrete to provide better grip for trucks and cars during the winter.

At the same time, the city plans to do underground utility work in some areas.

Perhaps the biggest headache for Cadillac residents will come when MDOT tears out and replaces the railroad tracks near Glen’s Market. To facilitate such a project, the road will have to be completely closed.

Meanwhile, downtown Cadillac improvements are scheduled to slow traffic, enhance the business atmosphere and improve pedestrian safety.

At several intersections, the sidewalk will be extended into the parking lane so pedestrians have a shorter distance to go when crossing Mitchell.

Elsewhere, trees and streetlights will be installed for beautification.

The road itself will be transformed into a “gateway” to downtown Cadillac with new lights, banners, raised planters and a raised median in the center of the road.

New crossing lights will be installed for pedestrians and a synthetic material will be used to create a brick-like imprint on the road surface.

Plans of the project can be viewed at the Cadillac Municipal Complex, 200 N. Lake St.

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