September Construction Update
The Bank Intercounty Drain project started in July 2025 and will take approximately four years to complete. Once completed, nearly eight miles of storm sewer will have been replaced and three new stormwater detention ponds will be available to hold water during large rain events.
Construction is divided into five divisions. One division is complete, another is substantially complete, and the other three are ongoing. Read about the current status of each division below.
Stormwater Detention Ponds
This division's work includes constructing three stormwater detention ponds to store and slowly release stormwater runoff during peak rain events to help minimize flooding. To construct the ponds, the first step is to remove dirt - and lots of it! This process is still ongoing, with material being actively hauled off-site.
Outlet Storm Sewer Replacement
Work is substantially complete for this division. Final site restoration is underway and nearing completion. Since June of 2025, crews have been working on installing a 60" diameter storm sewer outlet from one of the detention pond locations to the Grand River.
Saginaw Highway Box Sewer
To increase capacity of the Bank Intercounty Drain system, 4,300 feet of box sewer will be installed below Saginaw Highway and Dibble Avenue. Most of the work on Saginaw Highway is complete, with the majority of Saginaw Hwy. paved. The contractor adjusted traffic controls inside the work zone for storm sewer installation to continue from Saginaw onto Dibble. Once the storm sewer is clear of the intersection and onto Dibble, contractors will continue working on rebuilding Saginaw Hwy., with plans to reopen it within the next month.
Neighborhood Storm Sewer Pipe Replacement
Work in this division consists of the construction of various smaller-diameter storm sewer drains. The contractor began storm sewer installation at the end of the month, working east of Hume Blvd in homeowners’ backyards to improve drainage. This work is located on the block between Blanche and St. Joe Hwy.
Traffic Alert
TRAFFIC ALERT
Saginaw Hwy Lane Closures
Saginaw Highway lane closures have shifted to allow storm sewer installation to continue to the east along Dibble Ave. Inside the work zone, lanes have shifted north, with lanes open for eastbound and westbound traffic. An alternate route remains posted along 496 from the I-69 overpass on Saginaw to the Cedar/Larch exit off 496.
Safety First: Local Traffic Only
When a road is designated for "local traffic only," it means that the road is closed to through traffic. However, vehicles that need to access a destination on that specific road are permitted to enter (i.e., residents who live there or visitors to a property or business). This keeps our workers and you safe.
Question or Concerns?
For questions about construction work, email construction@bankdrain.org.
If you need to report an urgent but non-life-threatening matter related to construction of the Bank Intercounty Drain please call the Construction Manager, Eric Deibel at (517) 312-1459.
The information in this blog post came from an email sent out on 8/20/26. To register for email updates for the Bank Intercounty Drain project, click here.