FeedsSenator, commissioner add pull to underpass project
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Wayne County Commissioner Laura CoxAdd State Sen. Bruce Patterson (R-Canton Township) to the growing list of high- ranking state and county officials working with City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township elected officials, business owners and residents to resolve issues with $14.5 million Sheldon Road Underpass Project.
Patterson, the chair of the State Senate Technology and Energy Committee, has met with officials from DTE recently to discuss their role in the delay of the project to install a motor vehicle underpass along the train tracks located near M-14, said Plymouth Mayor Phil Pursell.
“Patterson was instrumental in getting assurances from DTE that they will complete their role in the project,” said Pursell. “He deserves the credit.”
The much-criticized underpass project was scheduled for completion in November. However, that deadline is in jeopardy due to a several-month work stoppage caused by permit disputes between DTE, AT&T the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). All sides have since returned to work removing their infrastructure from the construction site in order to allow the installation of a temporary train track and a new water main.
In December, Pursell and Township Supervisor Richard Reaume sent a letter to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano urging the county to take a more active role in enforcing deadlines related to the project. Patterson was among a group of officials who received copies of the letter.
Reaume said the state and county officials will play an integral role appropriating funds to accommodate an accelerated work schedule.
Reaume said DWSD representatives have informed work crews they have only to the end of April to install the water main responsible for connecting several western Wayne communities, including Northville and Canton, to water from Detroit. If the April deadline is missed, underpass construction will be delayed for at least seven months after the “peak” water usage season has passed.
The water main is the deadline I’m worried about.” said Reaume. Let’s get that done and then we can worry about November,” he added.
Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox (R-Livonia), who also received a copy of the letter, is working with Plymouth community businesses impacted by the road closure.
Businesses along Sheldon and Five Mile Roads are reporting losses as high as 40 percent. Cox is in talks with county public works officials to place more signage along the construction route in an attempt to help motorists navigate through detours.
Cox said the completion of the underpass project and offering assistance to impacted business owners is one of her top priorities in 2008.
“I want to meet with some business owners and come up with some ideas on what (Wayne County) can do to help,” she said.
