In the Photo: (From left) Crystal Falls TSC Transportation Engineer Ben Feldhausen; Nordine Plaza owner Terry Nordine; Crystal Falls TSC Manager Mike Premo; and Nordine Plaza founder Tom Nordine display the new sign designating the carpool lot in Watersmeet, at the intersection of US-2 and US-45.

November 9, 2009 -- Nordine's Plaza and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) have partnered to create a new public carpool lot in Watersmeet at the intersection of US-2 and US-45.

In exchange for using a portion of the plaza's property, MDOT paved a gravel area commuters had already been using, and provided signs designating it an official carpool lot. The paved carpool lot also includes parking for three semi-trucks.

"The best location for a carpool lot is a location that motorists have already decided is convenient," said Mike Premo, MDOT Crystal Falls Transportation Service Center (TSC) manager. "By working with Nordine's Plaza, we're making it even more convenient for commuters and other travelers."

The lot also will be used as a pick-up and drop-off location for Indian Trails Inter-City bus service and Gogebic County Transit buses. The transit authority also has secured funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to construct a passenger shelter on the site.

For up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or visit the "Michigan Department of Transportation" page on Facebook and become a fan.

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