New Tool Estimates Macomb County Road Fixes at $1 Billion

A new mapping tool shows the cost of fixing Macomb County's “poor roads and bridges” at over $1 billion. According to the community analysis portion of the tool, released Monday, 805 lane miles of road are in poor condition and will require $980 million to repair. The map also lists 44 bridges as “deficient,” and estimates repair costs at $80.8 million.

Described as an “interactive tool…designed to share Macomb County's road data with the public,” the map and supporting data encompass “Information regarding roadway jurisdiction, funding, current projects and programs.” For 2018, the county has $137.5 million earmarked for repairs. The funds will be spent as follows: $72 million for reconstruction, $21 million for “administration capital and permitting” and $44 million for “road maintenance and pavement preservation.”

Projects scheduled for the year or already in progress include completely reconstructing Dequindre from Bush to Long Lake Road and repairs to Santa Barbara Street. Projects planned for Macomb Township include removing the intersection at Romeo Plank Road and 25 Mile Road and replacing it with a roundabout similar one at 25 Mile and Romeo east of that location, and total reconstruction of 23 Mile Road from North Avenue to Fairchild Road.

The interactive tool describes more than half of Macomb County’s 1,433 miles of road as in “poor” condition. This winter, poor road conditions have proven especially hard on area motorists. In February, flooded potholes on I-94 near St. Clair Shores caused a ramp to close when 15 cars were disabled by potholes near one ramp in a single evening. The state says it's addressing the potholes, and road crews will be out fixing them as long as the pavement is dry.

In addition to mapping planned and in-progress road projects, the interactive tool, available on Macomb County's website, explains how road funding is allocated, and offers information about Act 51, the law that covers state transportation appropriations.

Image via Macomb County.