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Innovate Mound reconstruction nears finish; lighting and sidewalks remain
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Summary
City staff and HNTB told the council the nine‑mile Innovate Mound reconstruction has been delivered on budget and is close to final completion, with outstanding median lighting and sidewalk gaps slated for work this spring and early summer.
City Manager Mark Vanderpool and HNTB senior engineer Steve Griffith briefed the Sterling Heights City Council on the Innovate Mound reconstruction, saying the large corridor upgrade is close to final completion but still has a few punch‑list items to finish.
Griffith, the project coordinator overseeing the work, told the council the reconstruction began in 2021 and covered nine miles of Mound Road, bridge rehabilitation, culvert replacements and a shared‑use path. He said the project “was substantially completed in June 2024 with final completion in July 2026,” and stressed the remaining work centers on lighting and completing sidewalk gaps caused by utility conflicts. Mark Vanderpool described the project as “one of the largest projects we've ever had in our city's history” and noted cost estimates discussed in the presentation.
Why it matters: the reconstruction widened lanes, rebuilt pavement with concrete, added storm sewer and hundreds of drainage structures, installed pedestrian signals and a shared path intended to improve safety and multimodal access across Sterling Heights and neighboring Warren.
Key details reported to council included roughly 86 lane miles of reconstructed concrete, new curb and gutter, 16 miles of storm sewer and construction of bioswales in medians as green infrastructure to meet runoff permitting requirements. Griffith described the bioswales as a cost‑sensitive alternative to buried detention that detains runoff and reduces pollutant flow to state waters.
Council members pressed staff on the remaining schedule and utilities work. Mark Vanderpool and Griffith said utility relocations by Comcast and DTE are wrapping up; Comcast's Shannon Doolin told council crews expected to finish relocations between 16 and 18 Mile by April 26, clearing space for final median lighting installation. Staff said median street‑light installation will begin from the south end near 14 Mile and move north; once poles are removed and lighting installed the corridor will be fully lit. Vanderpool and Griffith told the council they expect miscellaneous sidewalk punch‑list work to be completed this spring and final acceptance around July 1.
Next steps: city staff and HNTB will continue coordination with utility partners and return to council with completion notices as the remaining lighting and sidewalk work is installed and inspected.
