Shelby Township Will Help Rochester Improve Crossing on Dequindre

Shelby Township will help the city of Rochester pay for improvements to the pedestrian and bike crossing that connects the Clinton River and Macomb Orchard trails on Dequindre Road this year.

Shelby Township approved spending up to $20,000 on the project Tuesday night; the cost of the project will be shared with the city of Rochester, which first started to explore the project last year, as well as Oakland County and the Road Commission of Oakland County.

"It's not a safe area to cross," said councilmember Cathy Daldin last March. "If we want to encourage people to cross the road, we need to do something so that it's safe there."

The crossing is behind the Onyx Ice Arena, south of Parkdale Road.

Improvements are expected to include a crosswalk, safety island for slower pedestrians and bicyclists to rest, additional signage, detectable warnings and better lighting. The project is scheduled to be completed this year.

The project is expected to cost about $130,000, according to Shelby Township officials. Rochester will use its share of Oakland County's Tri-Party Funds (about $83,000 from the city, county and road commission). A grant from Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program will cover the rest of the cost, according to the township.