Parks warns planned Fourth Street water-main replacement could close market access for about eight weeks

A planned water-main replacement associated with the Bron Court redevelopment could force a multi-week closure of Fourth Street and threaten access to the farmers market, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation staff told PMAC on March 19.

Remy Long, deputy manager for Parks, said the replacement of a water main under Fourth Street is expected to be substantial enough that current plans show a full closure of Fourth from Catherine to the northern extent of the Bron Court parcel. "The current projection is that the water main replacement will require the full closure of Fourth from Catherine to the northern extent of Bron Court's parcel and that the closure for the water main replacement would take eight weeks," Long said.

Why it matters: Fourth Street provides vehicle access to the market lot; a full closure during market season could disrupt vendor deliveries and customer circulation. Long said he has repeatedly told planning and engineering colleagues that the market is an essential public service and that at minimum Parks needs to keep at least one access drive open throughout any replacement work.

Uncertainty and mitigation: Long emphasized the timeline and scope are not finalized and that construction plans remain under review by city staff. He said staff continue to press city engineering and planning to produce options that preserve market access. A public commenter, Carlen, told the committee that an eight-week closure during market season would be “really worrisome” for vendors and asked if the work could be scheduled at another time of year.

Next steps: Parks staff will keep PMAC updated as city plan reviews progress and will coordinate mitigation measures with engineering and planning staff; no final schedule has been set.