Broadway Site – Ann Arbor

After years of research and planning, a project to remove soil and sediment impacted by a manufactured gas plant on a site along the Huron River at Broadway St. began in early September. In mid-December, all of the excavation, disposal and restoration work was completed.

During the course of the project, some areas were found to be larger than estimated and some new areas were discovered. In all, 47,750 tons of impacted material was removed, 27 percent more than anticipated.

While the remediation work is complete, the increased scope of work has delayed some on the tree planting planned for the site. That work will be completed in the spring.

The site most recently was the location of a MichCon service center, which served as headquarters for maintenance and customer service activities in the Ann Arbor area.

In 1900 the Ann Arbor Gas Company built a manufactured gas plant on the eastern portion of property. MichCon acquired the plant and the local distribution system in 1938.  MichCon has conducted several investigations and remediation activities at the site over the years to minimize exposure from impacted soils.

Since closing the Broadway Service Center in 2007, MichCon has been working closely with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to assess the remaining impacts to soils and sediments at the site.  

We hope to make the 14-acre site available for development, public use, or both at some time in the near future. Depending on the ultimate use of the upland portion of the site, additional remediation may be necessary.