Broadway parking change proposed

Published 9:27 am Friday, September 19, 2014

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT This vehicle will not be able to park here if the council votes Monday to eliminate parking on the north side of Broadway Street between Fifth and Seventh streets.

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
This vehicle will not be able to park here if the Niles City Council votes Monday to eliminate parking on the north side of Broadway Street between Fifth and Seventh streets.

The Niles City Council will consider eliminating parking on a portion of Broadway Street while construction takes place on the Main Street Bridge replacement project in the coming weeks.

Parking would be eliminated on the north side of Broadway Street between Fifth and Seventh streets beginning with the closure of the bridge.

The Council is scheduled to vote on the matter at Monday’s regular meeting at the Niles City Fire Station on East Main Street.

Broadway Street will be the designated detour route during construction. The average daily traffic count on Broadway is expected to increase from 6,351 to 14,901 during the estimated yearlong project.

According to information provided in the City Council Report, the aforementioned portion of Broadway can become very narrow in the wintertime when snow piles force cars to park farther into the roadway or when snow is plowed up against cars that have not been moved. That can make it difficult or dangerous for large emergency vehicles to safely pass through the area.

That issue, combined with the expected increase in traffic, has caused the city to recommend eliminating parking on that portion of Broadway.

The city is asking affected homeowners to park in private drives, make alternative parking arrangements or use the city parking lot one block away. Also, the city said all affected property owners were sent a letter advising them that this parking change is being recommended and would be considered Monday.

The $11 million bridge replacement project is being handled by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Nick Schirripa, MDOT spokesman, said MDOT is hoping to finalize the construction contract with Anlan Corp. in the next “week or so.” At that time, MDOT will be able to release a definitive construction schedule.

Schirripa said he expects utility work to begin on the bridge in October and for the replacement project to begin in full in November. If everything stays on schedule, Schirripa said the bridge would reopen in November 2015.