Residents voice frustrations over road conditions

Road Commission hears complaints; promises action

 

GOODLAND TWP. — About a dozen or so residents filled the Goodland Twp. board room last week to voice their concerns over road conditions within the township, namely posted detour routes laid out by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Representatives of the Lapeer County Road Commission were in attendance at the meeting to hear the concerns and see if there was anything that could be done to help ease the pressure on some of the roads being used as detours that are not part of the actual official alternate route.

Among the roads discussed as being “beat up and torn apart” are sections of Bowers Rd., east of M-53 (Van Dyke) and a stretch of Brown City Rd. that runs north from Imlay City Rd. to Shaw Rd., and points beyond, up to Clear Lake Rd.

Destain Gingell, one of two LCRC representatives at the meeting told the crowd, “We have made Brown City Rd. from Imlay City Rd. north as a haul route, meaning trucks can travel that section during construction and paving of M-53.”

Gingell said Brown City Rd. will be repaired and maintained as needed by the county, with no additional cost to the township.

He said with the designation of Brown City Rd., “we can’t stop the traffic from using that road.”

After hearing concerns about speed of traffic and size of loads, Gingell stated, “if that is a problem, we certainly can get enforcement out there and monitor it, both from the county and the state. We just have to be made aware of it. I’m glad I came tonight and I’m hearing your concerns.”

Asked about the progress of work on M-53, Gingell told the crowd, “MDOT says they are on schedule with the bridge work north of Bowers Rd. and the paving of M-53 continues, as weather allows. We are doing the best we can with the hand we have been dealt (by MDOT) when it comes to detours and road maintenance.”

It’s expected the work on both projects will be completed in early fall, or sooner.

As of the week of July 8, paving crews were laying asphalt on sections of M-53, north of Bowers Rd. Gingell said trucks are hauling product across Shaw Rd., to Brown City and then south to Imlay City Rd.

“Shaw Rd is still in line for some major work,” the Road Commission representative stated. “There are federal dollars involved with that project and it still has to go to bids. But once its all finished, it will be pretty much a total rebuild of Shaw between M-53 and Brown City Rd.”

In other board news, discussion was held on the Mill Creek dam and it’s current condition. Board members and audience members all agreed, the dam, when it was working properly, did it’s job and the township was able to control the flow of water.

Currently, the dam is not functional and has been a contributing factor in flooding area farms.

“It’s doesn’t hold water back anymore,” board member Matt Van Dyk pointed out. “It just rushes through there with the big runs and makes a mess of the fields downstream.”

Van Dyk said there are FEMA grants available to help address the situation of the dam. Other options discussed in trying to solve the water problems were to make Mill Creek wider, replace culverts to improve water flow or create a new gated dam system.

According to board members, the Mill Creek dam has not worked properly for the past 10 years, and there has been little done to address the flooding issue downriver.

Gingell said he appreciated the information and intended to research the issue and see if there were any recommendations the Road Commission could make.