SVSU acquires section of Davis Rd

Refit set to begin next January after new water line installed

November 5, 2007 —

With SVSU's acquisition of a portion of Davis Road formally approved, reconstruction is set to begin next January. The section of the road that runs from the intersection with Pierce to College Drive will undergo a refit to improve the quality of the road surface and better incorporate it into the University.

SVSU began the process in acquiring the part of Davis Road in January. The University sent out a letter and notified residents of their plans for the road and by June the Saginaw County Road Commission agreed to abandon the section of the road.

"The University, for a number of years, has had an interest in acquiring Davis Road," Vice President of Administration and Business Affairs Jim Muladore said. "It's not conducive to student athletes."

The speed limit was recently reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph in the section SVSU has acquired and the University plans to lower it again to 25 miles per hour, like the rest of campus.

Reducing the speed limit to 25 mph was the University's intent since the beginning of the year, but there but officials feared lowering it too much in such a short span of time.

"We're reducing the speed limit in stages," Muladore said. "We don't want people thinking we're trying to give them speeding tickets."

Muladore said SVSU will begin construction on the section of Davis Road next May after commencement. The wait to begin construction is due to a problem with water lines under the road, which must be taken care of first.

The city of Saginaw plans to install a new treated water line beginning in February. The current line is over 60 years old and in substandard condition. The installation should be completed by next April.

Once installing the new water line is completed, SVSU will begin to resurface the road and install crosswalks, sidewalks, and lighting.

"It'll be integrated with the campus look," Muladore said. "Safety is one of the primary issues," he added.

During construction, the section of Davis Road will be closed off at times SVSU will try to limit that as much as possible. The road will stay open during the installation of the new water lines.