Shelby Township's 2014 road projects move ahead, maintain infrastructure quality

The phrase, “no pain, no gain” usually relates to an exercise regimen, but for Shelby Township motorists and residents it holds true when it comes to local roads.

In the midst of an extraordinary road work season, Shelby Township had five of the Macomb County Department of Roads’ nine active projects as of July 18. But officials are quick to point out that without this work the Township would be in the same state of disrepair as other roads throughout the state of Michigan.

“If we want to stay ahead of the curve with our infrastructure, we must follow through on our commitment to improving roads,” Shelby Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said. “The Board of Trustees recognizes that the alternative to approving these projects and allocating funds is to ultimately spend more tax dollars patching potholes to end up with worse roads.”

According to 2012 Pavement Surface Evaluation and Ratings (PASER), 33 percent of highways, major roads, county roads and local roads in the state of Michigan were rated as poor or failing. In Shelby Township, that number is 16 percent with 77 percent of Shelby Township roads rated at good to fair and 7 percent rated as excellent or very good.

“By standing firm to our commitment to roads, we continue to boast first-rate infrastructure to attract new businesses and enhance the experience of all our residents,” Stathakis said. “Since our first days together in office in 2008 the conservative majority of our Board of Trustees has been passionate in its support for roads because roads, above any other issue we control, can improve our Township’s quality of life exponentially.”

From 2009 to 2013, the Shelby Township Board of Trustees allocated more than $4.7 million in Township funds to improve local roads. That sum equates to 6.5 percent of all per capita general fund expenditures, which compares to the state of Michigan’s 3.3 percent of per capita total expenditures on road improvements. And from 2008 the Township’s approved funds also realized a return of more than $29.1 million in federal, state and county money to improve local roads.

“Everyone is looking for a silver bullet to fix roads in the state of Michigan, but there really is only one solution and that is investing in the roads themselves,” Stathakis said. “Our Board has done an amazing job funding roads, and our employees and department heads have done an equally impressive job doing more with less to make these funds available, so we can improve the roads without raising taxes.”

Of the five local active projects, four are resurfacing and reconstructing of major roads. There is a full reconstruction of 25 Mile Road from Mound Road to Van Dyke with an estimated completion date of Sept. 19 after the road reopens to through traffic Aug. 29. Also in the area is the widening of Van Dyke from 25 Mile Road to 26 Mile Road, which is slated for completion Sept. 15, and a resurfacing of 25 Mile Road from Hayes Road to Van Dyke is set to finish Aug. 15.

The fourth project is a two-year project that will widen Hayes Road to five lanes between 21 Mile and 23 Mile roads. Underground storm sewer work, 22 Mile Road improvements and temporary lane construction are scheduled for 2014. Main-line road widening construction will occur during the 2015 construction schedule.

“I know it is hard to get around the Township these days, and most of these projects are concurrently scheduled because of extenuating circumstances,” Stathakis said. “But I know our residents understand that this is a necessary evil as we stay at the forefront of the county and state with our local roads.”