FeedsUnderpass moves forward, back in 2006
Lasting through two U.S Presidents, two Michigan governors and several city mayors and township supervisors, the project to erect a bridge to allow trains and motor vehicle traffic to travel simultaneously along Sheldon Road has yet to start.
Winter 2007 is the new start date for the project that saw several expected start dates expire in 2006. Wayne County engineers estimate the project will take two years to complete. The Plymouth Journal takes a look back over the Sheldon Road Underpass Project.
In January, Plymouth Township Board of Trustees members agreed to a revised payment plan for the Sheldon Road project. The project was set to start in November 2006. While the majority of funding for construction will come from the federal government and Wayne County, the township agreed to contribute more than $1 million.
Several trustees had concerns with the ability of the township to pay for the project, but they agreed creating an underpass is the right thing for the community.
At the time of the January meeting, Trustee Steve Mann said the project was good for the community. “There have been a number of things to put this project on hold. We voted for this thing back in 1999 and I think we should stick by it.”
All systems seemed ready to go in April for fall construction. Except, CSX Railroad, the company who operates the train tracks, disappeared from contact
Assistant Wayne County Executive Alan Helmkamp sent a letter to local officials telling both municipalities to be prepared for delays if CSX didn’t respond to the county by April 19. CSX owed $600,000 for the project and stuck the county with the bill.
When the county and the railroad got together in mid-April, Tom Drake, vice president of CSX, said the two sides reached agreement on engineering and construction contracts.
When asked about what caused the delay in contact between the county and the railroad, Drake said it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
“I just think there was different personnel involved at times, said Drake. “When the parties were at the table, it wasn’t a difficult process.”
After CSX and the county worked out the $600,000 problem, another issue developed with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Detroit Water and Sewer Board.
The County and MDOT had two different proposals for water drainage. Detroit Water and Sewer were at odds over costs to relocate a water main, at $1.4 million.
After coming to consensus with Detroit Water and MDOT, it was time to put the project on the fast track, even if the track ran through the holidays.
In November, after the approval of several contracts, construction on the underpass project was for the first week in December. Mayor Dan Dwyer of Plymouth had his doubts about the project start.
“I’m not banking in this work to starting on the first week of December, but in case it does, our citizens and business owners have a right to know,” said Dwyer.
The concerns of business owners—particularly along Sheldon Road were heard during a tow hall meeting. Residents from the city and the township had their chance to meet with CSX, Wayne County and MDOT officials. For many business owners along Sheldon Road the meeting left more questions than answers.
The final delay in 2006 came when utility crews needed more time to dig out equipment and reroute service connections.
“These delays are nothing new,” said Bob Jeanotte, owner of Jeanotte Pontiac- Buick in Plymouth. Jeannotte’s business sits on Sheldon Road near Five Mile Road and he said he is frustrated with the constant delays that leave him and others in a constant guessing game.
“This whole project has been a comedy of errors since it started eight years ago,” Jeanotte said.
