Editorial: Road construction in Belleville causing massive headaches

Wayne County’s work to resurface W. Columbia Ave./W. Huron River Drive from Five Points in Belleville to Elwell Road in Van Buren Township was applauded when it was announced because the roadway was so broken up.
Work began the day after Strawberry Festival ended and was expected to be done before school started. BHS is on that stretch. Residents along the route recently got a letter from the county saying the work would be done by late September or early October. The county has found more problems below the surface it has milled and it’s going to take longer.
There’s one-way traffic on the stretch now and lots of drivers going the wrong way. City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said that’s why police Chief Hal Berriman accepted the Van Buren Township police department’s offer to help. But, residents didn’t like VBT cruisers stopping drivers on city streets, often far beyond the construction and they complained to city hall.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Kollmeyer said Chief Berriman, who wasn’t present, would be at the next council meeting with a full explanation.
On Tuesday there also were complaints about county trucks going the wrong way in the one-way traffic lane which complicated things.
It’s going to be a stressful summer in that part of town. Avoid it, if you can. Can hardly wait for school to start.