Downtown trick-or-treating has already been cancelled for the year due to issues with Covid-19, but the virus isn't the only problem making the downtown unsafe and scary for ghosts, goblins, and all other sorts of folks.  

There appears to be three different road and sidewalk construction projects happening on Ludington Avenue in the few blocks that make up the downtown.  Lane diversions are prevalent in the western section, with one lane of the avenue being dug up near the downtown Wesco, but the main problems are happening for the pedestrian facilities, with several corners being closed off.  The first you encounter is on the south side of the avenue where it crosses Harrison.  

As you can see from the barriers and tape, pedestrians are effectively forced out into the traffic lane in order to get by, which can be considerably dangerous since eastbound traffic are not blocked from getting over and being in the lane with you.  If you're also travelling eastbound, you won't even see them coming from behind you.  One block up on James Street, you can see an even bigger problem.

The barricades, cones, and tape conspire to push you further out in the traffic lane, where vehicles are fresh from coming out of a confusion of pylons getting around the road construction just a couple of blocks away.  Adding to the danger is that the other side of James has a very similar arrangement where pedestrians are forced out into traffic lanes (as we shall see firsthand after looking at Rath's corner seen below).

The SE corner of Rath has two barriers with additional caution tape (lying on the ground) forcing walkers to enter the roadway where vehicles may be tempted to use the same lane you're using.  Eastbound vehicles were observed switching over to the right lane around this area, which could present a problem for those crossing Rath going east who necessarily have their back to such traffic and a very thin lane.  Let's cross the road and look again at James Street.

The Legacy Park construction is under way, and part of this construction involves closing pedestrian passage on the wide sidewalks in that area and forcing those on foot to take their feet out into the highway traffic lane to pass.  A fence and a planter prevent you from going around the other side.  Is this absolutely necessary?

This is a view of the other side of the Legacy Park construction, where we see more sidewalk work keeps you out on the highway longer, noting that the construction on the opposite side of James already shown does not allow you to use the crosswalk.  

It's unfortunate that some of this sidewalk obstruction and construction couldn't have been staggered somewhat better so that a pedestrian could actually proceed down Ludington Avenue without having to walk deep into the state highway already under construction or even just cross the avenue in a safe manner. 

Ironically, Chuck Marohn, writing in Strong Towns, who visited Ludington and imparted his engineering wisdom on many of our top city officials earlier this year, put out an article about the importance of pedestrian safety earlier today on Facebook that they might want to look at and review what's going on downtown in regards to being a pedestrian hazard many times over:

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Update:  the Legacy Park contractors have adjusted their fencing to allow pedestrian travel on the sidewalk on the north side of Ludington Avenue.  I will be contacting MDOT later on today to remind them of their indiscretions on public safety as the sidewalk-blockage on the corners of Harrison, James and Rath still stand and will likely stand for the weekend, a busy time for pedestrians in downtown Ludington.

At least we can be confident that the masks will keep them safe. Just follow the science.

Well composed article X. If anyone has trouble reading, then the pictures well tell the story. Another thing. What did they do with all of the personalized bricks people paid thousands of dollars to have laid next to the clock? I paid for 3 bricks so where is my refund.

According to a September COLDNews article:  Heather Tykoski said the bricks will be given back to the people who donated, if possible. The bricks were planned to be moved with the clock to the Court Street-side of the plaza, but that will not happen.

“When we started looking more closely at those bricks, many of them are damaged and won’t survive a move like that,” Tykoski said. “So what we are going to do is hopefully remove as many as we can as gently as possible and allow the owners of those bricks to retrieve them.

“Then, we will be putting in place those bricks a plaque on the clock tower that will still have of those names on it. We’re collecting all of those names now.”

Keep an eye out for the names of those three people on the promised plaque, and see whether you get notified about your bricks-- or contact the COL since they have already took those bricks up.

Simply amazing the stupidities that continue and multiply in my small home town day and year after year. A very dangerous scenario of situations that are just waiting for a serious accident to happen. This entire article with pics. should be sent to MDOT to view and try to adjust for common sense and safety. Forget the COL trying to adjust, they can't be trusted or relied on for anything resembling normal anymore. My family too donated 4-5 bricks, and I trust I'll never see or hear anything about them again, sad.

It will be a huge disgrace to those who donated for the last Legacy Park if the city of Ludington doesn't take special care of the donated bricks and remember the generosity. To me it shows the attitude of some of the young officials who seem to think the people of Ludington have endless deep pockets, rather than recognizing the sacrifice and donations of many--that is really disgusting and maddening.

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