EAST LANSING – The building trades moved tons of earth out of the way, and then cleaned things up nicely in the effort to create a pair of railroad overpasses on Farm Lane on the Michigan State University campus.

A ribbon-cutting was held on Oct. 16, about two weeks after the Farm Lane and Service Road were opened to traffic. They had been closed since March 2008. The project lowered Farm Lane under two railroad crossings, widened and realigned the road, improved drainage, and added sidewalks and bike paths. The project was a joint partnership between MSU and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

“The Farm Lane underpass project presented a unique opportunity for MDOT to partner with MSU both in construction and design," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “Everyone was able to work together to create a safer, more efficient roadway that will serve the MSU and East Lansing community long into the future.”

Farm Lane is one the of university’s busiest roads.  One underpass is located north of Service Road at the Canadian National (CN) Railroad and the other south of Incinerator Road at the CSX Railroad. When the project was approved in 2007, more than 60 trains passed through the campus every day. The grade separations will end many traffic disruptions and make it easier for emergency vehicles to get around.

 “Safety and emergency response concerns were critical considerations for this project,” said MSU Board of Trustees member Colleen M. McNamara. “We also looked at ways in which we could improve the economic vitality of our business communities. With the new Farm Lane there are regional east-west business traffic flow improvements, as well as better access to I-496 and the interstate highway system.”