Garden City and Westland Residents Fed-Up with Seemingly Endless Merriman Road Construction

There’s some serious frustration bubbling up in Garden City and Westland. Residents and local businesses have been facing the brunt of ongoing construction on Merriman Road. The road has been closed off for almost two years now, causing significant discomfort and disruption to those who live or work in the area.

Jeff Kassab, who manages a convenience store on Merriman Road, said that since the construction commenced in 2023, the area’s traffic and his store’s customers have seen a sharp decline. The road’s closure has forced him to cut down his staff and put extra hours himself. “I had to get rid of employees and work more hours myself,” said Kassab.

The Merriman construction project comprises two bridge replacements – one over the Rouge River and the other over Hines Drive. Unfortunately, the project hasn’t stuck to its schedule, leading to increased inconvenience for the residents and businesses in the area.

Nan Frye, a resident of Garden City, expressed her frustration over the inconvenient circumstances. “It’s been a pain in the rear,” said Frye. “Gas wise, it’s costing me more just to get around the construction to Merriman.”

When inquired about the reasons for the delay, sources revealed that certain difficulties arose due to proximity to a sanitary line running parallel to Merriman Road. Additionally, working around the concrete debris from an old, abandoned wastewater treatment system could result in shifting the existing sanitary sewer. This could affect the structural integrity of the sewer and further delay the construction project.

As of now, the project’s completion depends on the weather and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024. The county officials assured they would continue to follow the project’s progress and provide updates accordingly.

The residents and business owners in Garden City and Westland hope for a swift completion of the construction project, reinstating the normal flow of traffic and alleviating the difficulties they’ve had to tackle due to the prolonged construction work.