Work has gotten underway on a major infrastructure project in downtown Buchanan.
The Buchanan City Commission held a meeting this week to fill in the public on what’s going to be happening during the construction, attracting a packed house. Tree removals started last week, and the major underground work will begin soon.
Community Development Director Richard Murphy said this $19 million project is years in the making as the city replaces old water and sewer lines.
“This construction activity will ramp up as weather breaks and last for about a year,” Murphy said. “So we know there will be challenges. We know this because we’ve talked to communities that have been through this.”
However, Murphy said this project will be worth the headaches.
“We’re going to be basically building a completely new downtown streetscape. So what we want you to do is keep your eye on the prize, which is when we’re done with this, we will have brand new water and sewer infrastructure for the next hundred years.”
Allegan Assistant City Manager Parker Johnson was present to tell the crowd a similar project in his town it wasn’t easy, but it revitalized the downtown.
As streets are closed, residents are told there will be posted detours and barricades to make it clear where vehicles aren’t supposed to go.
