Main Street work in Capac to begin

Depending on weather, projected to be 8 weeks

CAPAC — For motorists who routinely drive through Capac to go to work or to Metro Detroit, you might want to find an alternate route. 

Beginning later this month, major repairs will be done on a four block section of Main Street that is expected to last at least eight weeks, depending on the weather.

Village Manager Travis Youatt said there was a pre-construction meeting last week with low-bidder ML Chartier officials and other sub-contractors working on the project. “It was a very good meeting and they are getting ready to go,” Youatt said.

“It sounds like work could begin the week of July 27.”

According to Youatt, the contractor will be shutting down the entire paved area of Main Street.

However, the sidewalks will stay in place as long as possible. 

“We are most concerned about our businesses,” Youatt explained.

“We are going to keep the front doors open for the businesses in the downtown area so they can still serve their customers. Not all of them have back door entries, so this was our solution, so as to try and minimize the disruption for our business owners.”

Youatt said crews are confident, once they get going on the work, they can “knock it out fairly quickly and get it opened up yet this fall,” Youatt noted. 

He said during the pre-con meeting, discussion was held as to potential detour routes and signage to let motorists know the posted detour around the construction work.

“We’ve ordered a lot of signs for the detour to let motorists know how to navigate around town,” Youatt said. 

“There will be a lot of activity in town for a few weeks, but in the end, it will be worth it and a great addition to our community. We are pretty excited about this getting going finally. 

There has been a lot of planning, phone calls, paperwork, delays, but it’s happening now and when it’s done, it will be a great improvement for the downtown area.”

The St. Clair County Road Commission has also advised the village they intend to install a roundabout at the intersection of Capac Road and Imlay City Road (M-21).

“They had told us work would be done yet this year, originally,” Youatt said. “Now, they are saying it will be next year. We don’t really see a need for it and it would be an issue with the underground infrastructure we have. So, we intend to keep discussing the project with them and hopefully change their minds.”