KINGSFORD — Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation gave an update to Kingsford City Council on a Carpenter Avenue project at the city’s northern border expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.

Dave Bradley of MDOT’s Crystal Falls office described the M-95 construction as a “major fix” that will replace about 800 feet of road. They would dig up several layers of underlying material and the city would complete needed infrastructure and access line work in conjunction with the project.

The work, from Woodward to Hamilton avenues, would also include narrowing the lanes enough to create green space along the road, with new sidewalks and curbing that would be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

About four years ago MDOT began discussions with the city on the road project. Coleman Engineering was hired to do engineering.

Traffic would be diverted to J Street, Hamilton and Kimberly avenues and J Street might be made one-way during construction. One lane of traffic would remain open on Carpenter. Access to Carpenter from Cass Avenue would be restricted during construction.

Bids are expected to go out in November. A public hearing on the project will be set. MDOT plans to repair all of M-95 in the future.

In other business, the council:

— Agreed to a request from City Manager Mike Stelmaszek to create a Civil Service employment list to include public safety officer candidates who are not certified by Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. The city would pay for the candidates to attend the next session of the police academy in Marquette, which is starting in May.

The city previously sponsored candidates but stopped in 1991, when it regularly had more applicants. Now the city has been having trouble finding certified candidates, with two positions to fill and another opening expected soon. Stelmaszek said 30 candidates are enrolled for the next Marquette session, all of them sponsored. A grant program is available to help pay for the cost. “It’s important to look at other options,” he said.

— Received three bids for engineering costs on a resurfacing project planned on Breitung Avenue. The bids were: Wickwire Infrastructure Solution and Consulting of Iron River, $76,915; Coleman Engineering of Iron Mountain, $68,608; and GEI of Iron Mountain, $55,664. The council voted to accept the lowest bid that meets all specifications.

According to Stelmaszek, GEI will be the engineers for the resurfacing project and water main and access line replacement work the city plans on the Kingsford side of East Breen Avenue and a portion of Woodbine. The federal contribution is $175,000 and will be matched by $60,000 from the city’s major streets fund. There will also be a contribution from the city’s water fund at a cost still to be determined. The city will be replacing water mains that are reaching their 100-year lifespan and water access lines the state has mandated the city replace.

— Passed a resolution to support a dark store bill proposed by Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township.

— Granted an easement across city property to land owned by Zam’s Services in the former Ford industrial area.