CHANGING LANDSCAPE
Motorists beware: Five major road, bridge projects coming
The start of spring always means a changing landscape in Michigan.
But it’s more than trees budding and tulips poking through the ground. It also means those orange traffic barrels will soon be popping up along the state’s highways.
The Gratiot County Road Commission has five major road and bridge projects, totaling about $1.7 million, scheduled for this spring and summer. They are:
• Four miles of State Road from Polk Road to Lincoln Road between Emerson and Arcade townships will get an asphalt overlay at an estimated cost of $788,000. Federal and state funds will pay for 80 percent of the work with the remainder covered by the road commission. Construction is due to start in mid-may and be finished by July 1. The road will remain open during the project.
• Nearly two miles of South Luce Road from the south county line to Skyline Drive in Fulton Township will receive an asphalt overlay at an estimated cost of $398,000. Federal and state funds will cover 80 percent of the project with the road commission paying the rest. Work is due to begin in mid-may and be completed by July 1. The road will remain open during construction.
• One-and-a-half miles of Grant Road between Ely Highway and Luce Road in Newark Township will get an asphalt overlay at an estimated cost of $190,000. The entire project will be funded by the road commission. Work is set to start this summer and be completed in August. The road will remain open while work is taking place.
• The Tyler Road Bridge west of Winans Road over the Pine River in Arcada Township will be rehabilitated at a coat of $171,000. It will be paid for by a combination of federal, state and road commission funds. The project, which will include deck repairs, asphalt resurfacing, waterproofing the membrane, concrete beam and approach work, and guardrail replacement, will begin in May or June and be finished by Aug.
27. A detour will be in place during construction.
• The Cheesman Road Bridge west of Michigan Av
enue over the Pine River in St. Louis will also be rehabilitated at a cost of $171,000. A combination of federal, state and road commission funds will cover the cost. The project, which will include deck repairs, asphalt resurfacing, waterproofing the membrane, concrete beam and approach work, and guardrail replacement, will begin in May or June and be finished by Aug. 27. A detour will be in place during construction.
In addition, the road commission will chip seal 40 miles of paved roads during June, July and August at an approximate cost of $27,000 per mile and resurface 120 miles of gravel roads at a cost of $9,000 per mile.
The total price tag for that work is estimated at $2.1 million.
Road commission revenue for last year was nearly the same as 2019, $12.73 million in 2020 compared to $12.77 million the previous year, while Michigan Transportation Fund dollars increased by 4 percent, according to Manager Mark Craft.
“We continue to purchase much needed equipment such as two new scraper trucks each year, as well as pave and chip seal 40 to 50 miles of roads throughout the county,” he said. “Last year, with the help of the townships, we re-graveled 135 miles of the 824 miles of gravel roads in Gratiot County.”
Over the past four year, due to increased funding, paved road conditions in the county have improved dramatically.
In 2020, 45 percent were rated good, 42 percent fair and 13 percent poor.
That’s up significantly from 2017 when paved road conditions were rated 26 percent good, 41 percent fair and 33 percent poor.
“For comparison, the statewide county paved road conditions in 2019 were 31 percent good, 36 percent fair and 44 percent poor,” Craft said.
The road commission is responsible for maintaining 1,183 miles of county roads and 120 bridges.
The agency also maintains 234 miles of federal and state trunklines, including U.S. 127, M-46 and M-57, though a partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation.