Officials hoping for state grant funds to resurface Ann Arbor-Saline Road at I-94
The Ann Arbor City Council is throwing its support behind an effort to secure state grant funding to resurface the crumbling section of Ann Arbor-Saline Road near Interstate 94.
Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit, said the portion of the road south of Eisenhower near the highway is in poor condition and must be resurfaced.
The city — along with the Washtenaw County Road Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation — began planning the multi-jurisdictional project last year.
The Road Commission has been leading the process and already applied for funding from the state's Transportation Economic Development Fund.
Pirooz said the state requires a City Council resolution in support of the TEDF funding application, and so council members made that happen Monday night. Mayor John Hieftje said he was "overjoyed" to be able to support the project.
The section of Ann Arbor-Saline Road that officials hope to see resurfaced extends from Eisenhower in the city limits to roughly 1,000 feet south of I-94 in Pittsfield Township.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
outdoor6709
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 1:47 a.m.
Oh good. Another source of money to fund public art.
David Muzzatti
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
"Oh my......the Myans were right after all. The world is going to end this year."
blahblahblah
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
What about Miller Rd??? We currently pay more taxes for AATA (2.056 mills) than for the city streets maintenance fund (1.9944 mills). Let's get our priorities straight! Please don't ask me to pay even more for AATA while the roads remain in such poor shape!
Peter Eckstein
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
What is the timing on this? The Stadium bridge will be out for more than a year. Much of Stadium east of the bridges is going to be dug up, so that access to the Michigan Stadium (and much else) will be very difficult from US-23 via Washtenaw. Will this at the same time block traffic coming into town from I-94 via Ann Arbor-Saline? Inquiring minds want to know--as, I assume, do football fans.
marqueA2
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
Yes repair it. While in the process please add a safe place for pedestrians to cross 94 as well. Walking along the side of the road (the only current option) to get to Meijers/etc always feels like a dangerous adventure. -marqueA2
grye
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.
Can't pedestrians take the AATA to cross the highway? Much safer.
jns131
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
They have been battling for that for years now. I think that is why this project has been on the back burner. I read about it a few years ago on this topic.
alterego
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Once we all have flying cars, we won't have to worry about potholes ever again.
ranger007
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
THANK GOD..this has been needed for years but it seems they figured they would let it get to the point where someone it else would pick up the tab.
jns131
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
I think the bridge is going to need repairing as well. Remember how bad the off and on ramps where? Better now, but still, yes, it is about time.
Tesla
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Your description of Ann Arbors ownership of the roadway is all wrong and confuses readers. That being said. That section from Eisenhower all the way over the overpass is so bad it's dangerous. My antilock brakes activate all the time on that roadway Ahhhh whatever. Fix the roads. You get enough tax money.
Gorc
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
The 1,000 feet south of the overpass extends into Pittsfield Twp. What about the Township....are they participating with the project too?
Tesla
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Who knows what they are trying to say but the overall project which would be Eisenhower to just past the eastbound 94 on/off ramps is what needs fixed and my estimation is that that is about 1000 feet of roadway.
Sparty
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
And where does the State get its funding from ?
CB
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
Why are we paying such high taxes when we "can't afford" to fix our roads? It is absolutely ridiculous that it was allowed to get as bad as it is in the first place. I hope that while they're at it, they time the lights properly so that vehicles don't have to stop at every light. That can't be good for the road.
NorthMaple
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
I-I-I reaa-a-aa-ally th--i-iink th--aat th--i-ss seccccc--tion nee-eee-eeds re-ee-paaa-viiinng. Sorry, I typed that while driving over that section of Ann Arbor-Saline.
applehazar
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
It's about time - my alignment has been ruined many times - BUT - read the article - Ann Arbor is looking for state funds - not federal not local - good luck with that!
citizenwhocares
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
Hats off to the 3 agencies for tackling this together. Should have happened a long time ago. My only concern is that they are calling this a resurfacing; I hope someone has performed a coring/bridge inspection and verified the issue is not bigger than just a poor surface. Otherwise, the fix will only be good for 3-5 years if we're lucky.
A2comments
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
The mayor is overjoyed that the federal government might pick up the tab...
a2grateful
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
Gee, the city is just starting to realize this need now? What have they been doing? Maybe they have been too busy counting the $30-million+ they've "bucketed away" from the well-stoked, taxpayer-soaked, unspent, fascinatingly burgeoning street-maintenance fund. Sidebar: Has anyone noticed that most of the lane markers have worn off our streets? Are we looking for grants for street paint, as well? Maybe the street maintenance department could get paint funding from our art department! On the other hand, lack of lines might be a good thing . . . For example, once one is launched from their lane due in random pothole trajectory, the lack of lane lines is comforting. Otherwise, travelers are typically stressed when landing several feet outside their lane. In this case, clear double yellow lines are highly annoying! Also, lane lines cause additional stress, distracting drivers from cell-phone use, or looking for teeny, tiny, fairy-sized stop signs hidden near some crosswalks.
Barb
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
"Gee, the city is just starting to realize this need now? What have they been doing?" Trying to play catch up on all the projects they've neglected? Need I remind you how long it took the City to address the Stadium bridge issue?