SOUTH WARREN ROAD FUNDING QUESTIONED
Innovate Mound half complete; over 20 more projects slated for next year
The massive Innovate Mound Road reconstruction project in central Macomb County is about halfway done as officials are also eyeing how to expand the project to the county’s south end.
Macomb County Roads Department Director Bryan Santos announced the status last week during a budget hearing for his department in front of the county Board of Commissioners in the county Administration Building in Mount Clemens.
“One of our gems, Innovate Mound, we’re about 50% complete,” Santos told the board. “The project is looking at wrapping up in (early) 2024.”
Santos also presented his department’s 2023 budget of $351 million, a $70-million increase from this year primarily due to the Mound “mega-project,” as termed by Santos. Roads has become the largest county department, surpassing Community Mental Health in the past couple of years.
The 2023 budget proposal also includes over 20 road projects value at over $80 million, including $16 million for 23 Mile Road and $15 million for Romeo Plank Road.
Innovate Mound, which is funded by federal, state and local funding, will cost an estimated $220 to $230 million, an increase of several million dollars from earlier estimates that the state has stepped in and agreed to pay.
It includes comprehensive upgrades to the road, landscaping, lighting and technology from Interstate 696 to Hall Road (M-59), with the north end from 15½ Mile nearly completed and work starting on the section from 15½ Mile to I-696.
Some work continues on the north end of the project while some work has started on the sound end of the project, Santos said.
Commissioner Mai Xiong of Warren at the meeting continued her ongoing advocacy of trying to get officials to secure funding to reconstruct Mound south of Interstate 696.
“I am very disappointed that it’s not going south of 696,” Xiong said. “I think it’s important. Eight Mile is a connecting mile marker for Interstate 75. I think it just makes sense.”
She suggested there may be money available in upcoming budgets for the project.
But Santos said while he agrees the south Warren section should be done, more funding is needed.
“We are still looking at active grant opportunities for the southern section (I696 to Eight Mile),” Santos said. “That hasn’t fallen by the wayside. That is very prominent, on the top of our priority list as far as getting funding.
“But that is, again, a heavier ask or lift. Between us and the city of Warren, we can’t supplement that 100% just ourselves so we have to look at other grant opportunities.”
“This project (Innovate Mound) is a cost-sharing agreement with the cities of Warren and Sterling Heights, and I would implore you to continue working with the city of Warren to find any other gap funding that would be needed for south of 696 so that we can make sure we complete this entire project in its entirely to benefit the entire county, and not just a portion of it,” Xiong urged.
Later in the meeting, upon questioning by commissioners, Roads Department Finance Director Michelle Mykytiak indicated the department’s fund balance should be over $70 million at the end of 2023.
Board Chairman Don Brown of Washington Township suggested that money or additional funds from the state could be used for projects, suggesting an increase in the subdivision roads program in which the county posts $2 million each year for local communities to match to fund local roads, including side streets. Santos said each year the demand by local communities exceeds the supply.
Santos said he hopes the state will increase its allocation for that and other programs to increase road funding, which overall will increase in the county next year.
But he also cautioned the department wants to be financially conservative.
“We are cognizant of the needs,” Santos said. “If we can increase the programs, we very well will, but we have to look at the funds that we have available, revenues that are consistent in moving forward with what we have available. Hopefully, we do get some increases in funding or revenue.”
Santos reminded officials: “We do not tap into the county general fund. We are funded by Michigan transportation funds, additional federal funds, additional state funds, grant opportunities throughout.”
In his budget proposal, Santos is seeking to add one position, a records technician in engineering and traffic, which would increase his staff to 276.
Commissioner Phil Kraft of Chesterfield Township praised the increase to local road funding by $15 million next year and primary road funding by over $50 million, albeit most of that is due to Innovate Mound.
“It’s great for our county, our community,” Kraft said. “We can go back and say we are investing in roads because we know there is that need.”
The Roads Department maintains over 1,700 miles of roadways, 225 bridges, over 500 culverts, 900 signals, over 300 traffic cameras and over 60,000 signs, Santos said.
Most of the big 2023 projects are in the north end of the county, and many are ongoing. Following are most of the projects and costs slated for next year in addition to Innovate Mound:
• 23 mile Road, Card Road to Romeo Plank Road, reconstruction and widening, $16.2 million;
• Romeo Plank, north of 21 Mile Road to 23 Mile Road, reconstruction and widening, $15.5 million;
• Garfield Road, 22 Mile Road to 23 Mile, 24 Mile Road to 25 Mile Road, new construction, $6.8 million;
• North Bay Industrial Subdivision, 25 Mile to 26 Mile Road, reconstruction, $6.5 million;
• 14 Mile Road, Hayes Road to Hoover Road, rehabilitation, $6.2 million;
• Kelly Road, 14 Mile Road to 15 Mile Road, reconstruction and right-ofway, $4.6 million;
• North River Road at Catfish Channel, bridge replacement, $4.6 million;
• Metro Parkway, Ryan Road to Mound, rehabilitation, $4 million;
• New Haven at Salt River, bridge replacement, $3.3 million;
• Campground Road, Van Dyke to 28 Mile Road, rehabilitation and roundabout construction, $3 million;
• Schoenherr Road, 19 Mile Road to Hall Road, rehabilitation, $2.8 million;
• 30 Mile Road, Bur Oak Drive to Kildare Driver, reconstruction, $2.5 million;
• Hayes Road, 18 Mile Road to Hall, rehabilitation, $2.1 million;
• West Archer Drive, channel to Lake St. Clair, bridge replacement, $2 million;
• South River Road at Canal, bridge replacement, $1.8 million;
• Kelly Road, 15 Mile to South Nunneley, rehabilitation, $1.6 million;
• Coon Creek Road at Coon Creek, bridge replacement, 1.2 million;
• Harper Avenue, Little Mack Avenue to 11 Mile Road, rehabilitation, $925,000;
• Powell Road, 32 Mile Road to 33 Mile Road, rehabilitation, $806,000;
• Card Road at Hall (M59), dual right turn lanes, $150,000; and
• Capac Road, Irwin to Pratt streets, resurfacing, $400,000.
The department also will spend several million dollars on additional resurfacing and limestone resurfacing as well as other projects.
The roads budget along with the rest of the county budget is expected to receive final approval Wednesday.