Residents express dissatisfaction with road conditions

Road Commission accepts complaints and promises action

GOODLAND TWP. – About a dozen residents filled the Goodland Twp. board room last week to voice their concerns about road conditions in the community, particularly the detour routes established by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Representatives from the Lapeer County Highway Department were present at the meeting to hear concerns and see if anything could be done to relieve pressure on some roads that are used as detours and are not part of the actual official alternate route.

Roads considered “blighted and dilapidated” include sections of Bowers Road east of M-53 (Van Dyke) and a section of Brown City Road running from Imlay City Road north to Shaw Road and beyond to Clear Lake Road.

Destain Gingell, one of two LCRC representatives at the meeting, told the crowd, “We have designated Brown City Road from Imlay City Road north as a haul route so that trucks can travel that section during construction and paving work on M-53.”

Gingell said Brown City Road will be repaired and maintained by the county as needed at no additional cost to the municipality.

He said that by naming Brown City Road, “we cannot stop traffic from using that road.”

After hearing concerns about the speed of traffic and the size of loads, Gingell stated, “If that is a problem, we can certainly take action and monitor that, both at the county and state level. We just need to be made aware of it. I’m glad I came out tonight and listen to your concerns.”

When asked about the progress of work on M-53, Gingell told the crowd, “MDOT says they are on schedule with the bridge work north of Bowers Road and paving of M-53 will continue as weather permits. We are doing the best we can with the maps that (MDOT) has given us in terms of detours and road maintenance.”

Work on both projects is expected to be completed in early fall or earlier.

During the week of July 8, road crews were busy laying asphalt on sections of M-53 north of Bowers Road. Trucks are transporting the product via Shaw Road to Brown City and then south to Imlay City Road, according to Gingell.

“There is still some major work to be done on Shaw Road,” the highway department representative explained. “The project is being funded by federal funds and has yet to be put out to bid. But when everything is completed, Shaw will be virtually completely rebuilt between M-53 and Brown City Road.”

In other board news, the Mill Creek Dam and its current condition were discussed. Board members and listeners agreed that when the dam was functioning properly, it was doing its job and the community was able to control the flow of water.

The dam is currently not functioning and is contributing to flooding of farms in the region.

“It no longer holds back the water,” said board member Matt Van Dyk. “It just rushes through in large quantities and devastates the fields further downstream.”

Van Dyk said FEMA grants are available to help improve the dam’s situation. Other options discussed to solve the water problems included widening Mill Creek, replacing culverts to improve water flow or building a new dam system with floodgates.

Board members say the Mill Creek Dam has not functioned properly for the past decade and little has been done to address the flooding problem downstream.

Gingell said he was grateful for the information and intends to investigate the matter and see if the road commission can make any recommendations.