Shelby Asked to Pony Up $588,670 for Van Dyke Widening, Dequindre Bike Crossing

Shelby Township officials will consider approving more than half a million dollars in infrastructure improvements on Van Dyke and Dequindre at the board of trustees meeting Tuesday.

Earlier this month, . Tonight, the township is being asked to approve cost-share agreements for widening Van Dyke from 25 Mile to 26 Mile and improving the pedestrian and bike crossing at Dequindre Road between 23 Mile and 24 Mile.

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The widening of Van Dyke is the final link in the Macomb County Department of Roads’ plan to make the Van Dyke corridor five-lanes from M-59 to 26 Mile Road.

Although the total project cost is approximately $5.1 million, some $4 million in federal aid has reduced the price for MCDOR and Shelby Township to $1,137,340, which if split, works out to $568,670 each.

This project is scheduled to start in May and wrap up in October.

• More: See a list of 2013 construction projects in Macomb County

The second cost-share agreement scheduled for the board's review Tuesday is a project spearheaded by the City of Rochester to complete a safer at-grade crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing Dequindre between 23 Mile and 24 Mile – a crossing that connects the Clinton River Trail to the Macomb Orchard Trail.

Over the past year, Shelby Township officials have met with colleagues in Rochester, the Oakland County Road Commission, Friends of the Clinton River and other agencies to discuss improvements such as a crosswalk, safety island for slower pedestrians and bicyclists to rest, additional signage, detectable warnings and better lighting. 

A grant from Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program will cover 70 percent of the approximately $130,000 project cost, with Rochester left to cover the remaining 30 percent of construction costs, plus the contingencies and engineering costs.

However, as the project will also benefit Shelby Township residents, Rochester has asked that a portion of the remaining construction cost be shared. Shelby’s cost is expected to be $15,000, but the township engineer is recommending the board approve up to $20,000.

Rochester is expected to contribute a total of $88,000 to the project.

The township board will need to grant approval for both projects as well as authorize funding from the township's 2013 budget. The board is expected to act on this and other issues at tonight’s township meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. in the municipal building at 52700 Van Dyke.