FeedsSheldon Road now open to traffic
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From left: State Sen. Bruce Patterson, County Commissioner Laura Cox, State Rep. Marc Corriveau and Alan Helmkamp helped County Executive Bob Ficano open Sheldon Road to vehicular traffic. Ron Loiselle, Plymouth's mayor pro tem, and City Commissioner StelWith applause, cheers and honking horns Sheldon Road is open to commuter traffic.
Dozens of western Wayne County motorists along with community residents, business owners and elected officials gathered at the just-completed underpass at Sheldon Road near M-14 for a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the road that has been closed for almost two years.
The 23-month $16 million Wayne County project has been a lightning rod of controversy for the Plymouth community since the county began the project in January 2007.
Despite several major incidents with the project—including a lawsuit over the use of land in the construction zone to permit issues between local utilities companies blocking construction activities for several months—the project was completed within the 23-month timeframe predicated by county officials.
“I know there was a lot of skepticism if this (construction project) would be done on time and on budget,” Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano told the crowd of spectators who came out for a ribbon cutting ceremony. “We have met both.”
The idea of creating a motor vehicle underpass on Sheldon Road reaches across several administrations of county and municipal government.
Many credit Assistant County Executive Alan Helmkamp for persuading state officials to provide an additional $2 million to the project to extend work hours to make up for time lost during the utility companies impasse.
Helmkamp was also the person who—along with Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox (R-Livonia)—placed detour signs throughout the area and created a county website to help local businesses who rely on Sheldon Road for customer traffic
Ron Loiselle, mayor pro tem of the City of Plymouth, is one of the few municipal, county or state officials who was in office in 1995 when the underpass project was considered. He said it is benefit to the communities and he credited the official in charge of the project for its success.
“Alan (Helmkamp) has done a phenomenal job,” Loiselle.
As for the importance of the road, Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume said having the underpass project complete would benefit the community in more ways than one.
“Now we have a major artery so emergency vehicles as well as residents can use,” he said.
