City, county authorities address road concerns during town hall

 

By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers

DEARBORN — Wayne County residents voiced their thoughts on roads that have them the most concerned during the State of Our Roads community town hall June 10 at Salina Intermediate School, 2623 Salina.

County Commissioner Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) hosted the town hall with Wayne County Director of Engineering Michael Van Antwerp, Wayne County DPS Road Maintenance Division Director William Bantom, Wayne County Executive Office Representative Andrew Kandrevas, MDOT Taylor Transportation Service Center Manager Gorette Yung and Dearborn DPW Director James E. Murray who answered questions from those in attendance.

“The roads in the state of Michigan are probably the worst in the nation, especially here in Wayne County, the largest and most populous county in the state,” Baydoun said. “Wayne County has the largest amount of roads and the oldest system in the state of Michigan.

“Roads break the same way a building or body breaks down. If you don’t maintain it over time, the expense of fixing the roads rises fast. Same as if you don’t go to the doctor, you’re facing serious surgeries. Money to pay for roads comes from federal and the state governments, it’s very important to know that the county does not collect taxes to fix the roads.”

Baydoun began the town hall by speaking about the biggest concerns to the residents of south end area and the entire city: the Miller Road and Miller Bridge.

Other top concerns or questions centered on road construction funding, budget changes at the state level, the need for constant temporary road fixes, damage to vehicles and costs due to potholes, and how the community can help move projects along.

Van Antwerp said the Miller Bridge has about 500 temporary supports under it and that it’s actually two bridges, on Miller Road and Rotunda that form a “T.”

“Right now we’re talking to the state about submitting an application based on economic development funds for the design of the Miller Bridge,” he said. “We’re going out for engineering firm bids to design that bridge, and at the same time starting to pursue a federal grant for infrastructure for additional money for the reconstruction of the Miller Bridge.”

The current temporary supports are good for the next five years, and five new supports were added in May while the county continuously monitors the Miller Bridge. Van Antwerp also said the county would like to start the reconstruction of that bridge in the next three years, but that the his team is working with Ford Motor Co. and the Dearborn Economic and Community Development Department to help with the grant.

Bantom said Miller Road is a capital improvement project and the road maintenance division is cold patching potholes on the road once a week.

“It’s the only thing we can do at this point just for people to be able to travel on the road based on the condition it’s in until a more permanent fix is put in place,” he said.

When asked by a resident about fixing Wyoming near Salina and Dearborn Sausage, Van Antwerp said the plan he has for that area is at Ferney from Dix to Wyoming.

“I did get a little extra money this year so I’m starting the design of reconstructing Ferney from Dix to Wyoming,” he said. “We’re getting the project moved and I would like to get it under construction by next spring.”

Another question asked multiple times throughout the town hall was the number of big trucks and semi-trailer trucks traveling in the Salina area and building a crossover bridge for students and community to cross at Dix and Vernor.

State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-15th District) was in the audience at the town hall and responded to both topics mentioned. He said the Dearborn Public Schools is submitting two grant proposals to the Safe Routes to Schools organization for Miller Elementary and Salina schools.

“The Miller proposal has been submitted and awaiting funding there while the Salina proposal is being drafted,” he said. “This would provide some federal dollars to be brought down to help us build a safe pathway with markers on the road as well as lights being put up to create a safe crosswalk on the road. The grant will not provide funding for the construction of a pedestrian bridge like the one at Ford and Chase roads.”

On the topic of trucks, Hammoud said he’s working with the city council to have roads reclassified to no longer allow semi-trailer trucks to come through the neighborhoods.

“One, it creates safer a neighborhood for children to be crossing and two, reduces the amount of mobile truck pollution that’s ongoing within our communities,” he said. “Hopefully you’ll see something possibly done within the next year.”

The discussion then shifted to a 10-year study the county commissioned to look at all roads in Wayne County outside the subdivision roads.

“We looked at the infrastructure of our bridges and all of our roads, primary and secondary roads that we have in the county by engineering firms and they had all the data for the county and went out, looked at it,” Kandrevas said. “Judging by the next 10 years, it is estimated that we in Wayne County alone need $3 billion for our roads to be in good shape. Not perfect or brand new. Better than average. This does not include MDOT roads, freeways or city roads.”

Murray said a 2014 study evaluating every road in Dearborn found that 25 percent — 68 miles — were considered in poor shape and by 2019 that number was reduced to 19 percent.

“We’ll continue to work and try to maintain those streets so they don’t fall to disrepair,” he said. “We do have some streets that are in very bad shape, we recognize that. City Engineer Yunus Patel has outlined all of the streets we’ll be working on in the next five years.”

The City Council authorized $1 million of general fund money in the 2019-20 budget to be spent in the city and streets because of growing road concerns.

Murray said the city gets $10 million a year from the gas tax to work on city roads and streets along with $800,000 in federal aid money to help with major roads.

For context, Murray explained that to resurface one mile the cost is $1.3 million while to repave and remove concrete for one mile is $1.75 million.

Bantom said a project is planned on Rotunda from East Commerce Drive to the Schaefer bridge approach, and another tentative plan to have a contractor do work on Wyoming 750 feet south of Porath Court and south of Michigan Avenue.

Three other projects are also scheduled to start in Dearborn.

The first is Tireman between Greenfield and Schaefer roads starting in August and ending next spring and the second is on Greenfield Road between Rotunda and Michigan Avenue starting in September and ending before Thanksgiving at a cost of $3 million.

The third is a plan to design Outer Drive between Michigan Avenue to Golfview Drive with a start in the late summer 2020 and ending by Thanksgiving, Van Antwerp said.

“I understand your concern, it is scary,” Van Antwerp said. “We have 230 bridges out there in Wayne County. I drive on them all the time and it is scary. Bridges are scary. They go over rivers, valleys and railroad tracks in this case, they’re big and long.

“I understand your concern and I understand how scary it can be especially with everything that has gone on in the last two years, but I guarantee you we are not going to keep a bridge open if it’s unsafe. We’re not keeping a bridge open if it’s unsafe, we are checking that bridge constantly.”

Yung gave the prospective from the MDOT side on the topic of road repairs and how to report potholes for fixing. The phone number people can call for potholes on roads such as Ford Road, Michigan Avenue and Telegraph Road is 888-296-4546.

“Wayne County is MDOT’s contracting agency for routine maintenance so they do not need authorization to patch potholes,” she said. “If a traffic signal is not working, Wayne County also takes care of that. We’re in communication throughout the day with Wayne County and have a close working relationship.”

(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])