Ridge road paving project gets funding boost
A solution has been found to pave the entire stretch of Ridge Road between Warren and Ford.(Photo: Bill Bresler | hometownlife.com)
Supporters of a Ridge Road paving project on Canton's west side had hailed the plan with one caveat — a small section would remain a gravel road for lack of money.
Not anymore, apparently.
Township Supervisor Pat Williams has convinced Wayne County to share the $600,000 cost of paving a 900-foot section south of Hanford, meaning all of Ridge between Warren and Ford roads can now be paved.
That's welcome news to residents like Rich Felcher, who lives in a subdivision off Ridge Road.
"It only makes sense to do the entire project at once," he said. "I'm ecstatic that it's getting paved."
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Felcher and others have said it could pose a safety hazard to pave most of the road and leave the rest plagued by potholes and other problems.
The latest agreement still faces a township board vote in coming weeks, but a board majority already has supported paving the bulk of Ridge Road.
Ronald Agacinski, director of Wayne County's engineering division, confirmed in an Aug. 18 letter to Williams that the county would spend $360,000 to pave the 900-foot stretch if Canton pays $240,000. That's a 60 percent to 40 percent split.
The decision comes after Williams convinced Wayne County's top official to meet and discuss a solution.
"I'm extremely pleased that our county executive, Warren Evans, allowed me the time to plead our case here in Canton and saw the benefit to completing (the road paving) all at once," he said. "Without his support we would not be moving forward like we are in this partnership."
Under the new agreement, Wayne County will spend a total of $1.9 million to pave Ridge Road, while Canton will plunk down nearly $1.5 million when construction engineering and inspection fees are rolled in.
Williams said the money is likely to come by financing the project with bonds and possibly using some of the $900,000 Canton got back from a special assessment district tied to a former Cherry Hill Village paving project.
"We're going to do what makes the most financial sense for Canton when it comes time to commit the cash," he said, but added the project can be done without a tax increase.
Story continues below photo.
Ridge Road is now in line to be paved from Warren to Ford. (Photo: Bill Bresler | hometownlife.com)
Singh Development Co. also is involved by agreeing to pave a portion of Ridge just north of Ford Road to accommodate a new apartment complex. Williams has said it is likely the paving wouldn't begin until possibly next spring.
Some Ridge Road residents have strongly supported the paving project, while some residents elsewhere in Canton have said they believe the money could be better spent to fix more heavily traveled roads. Wayne County, however, had designated Ridge Road to receive money.
Township Trustee Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, along with Treasuer Dian Slavens, earlier voted against the Ridge Road project, in part because they wanted a comprehensive study of Canton road needs before proceeding piecemeal.
"I really think we should have waited and put this in the study with all the other projects," Graham-Hudak said, though she hasn't decided how she will vote on the latest plan.
Clerk Michael Siegrist said leaving one section of road unpaved was one of his biggest concerns. He welcomed the latest developments.
"I didn't know if we were going to have to go it alone," he said. "I'm excited the county is willing to partner with us. It looks like we're going to finish the job now."
Resident David Brancheau, who lives on the 900-foot section or Ridge, is among those who want the entire road paved. He has said traffic has increased "a hundred-fold ... in the last 20 years."
Other residents have cited concerns about potholes and excessive dust from the gravel road — problems they say have worsened over the years.
dclem@hometownlife.com
Twitter: @CantonObserver
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