Jackson Street to stay closed until April 22

3/30/2005

The closing of Jackson Street west of Erie Street for construction of a pedestrian tunnel, originally scheduled to end this week, has been extended until April 22, the city transportation division announced yesterday.

City officials blamed the three-week delay on utility relocation and "extra work" to rebuild the loading dock at the Lucas County Courthouse.

When completed, the $1.3 million underground passageway between the courthouse and the county jail will replace a 19th century tunnel that was notorious for its wetness and crumbling walls. It had been built to bring steam lines from a county power plant over to the courthouse, and its low, leaky ceilings bore signs warning judges and prisoners alike to take care to avoid hitting their heads.

Jackson has been closed since just after Thanksgiving. No detour is posted, with Constitution Avenue or Adams Street offering the best alternative routes to get from Erie Street to Spielbusch Avenue and Michigan Street.