Residents living on Flintridge and Pine Tree Roads may soon find navigation of their neighborhoods challenging, as both streets are scheduled to be repaved.
After consulting with the Road Commission for Oakland County, the Orion Township Board of Trustees recently decided to go through with paving projects on Flintridge and a portion of Pine Tree.
The board noted that their decision was based on the unique situation of the two roads, both used as cut-throughs.
They said the repaving was approved because the roads have broken down from heavy use, and not because Orion Township is ‘in the road-paving business.?
The decision should have a big impact on Carpenter and Pine Tree Elementary Schools, which sit on Flintridge and Pine Tree, respectively.
Pine Tree Principal Diane Dunaskiss said the decision to go ahead with the two projects shows the township’s commitment to its schools.
‘On behalf of the school district, we greatly appreciate your giving these projects consideration,? she said.
The two projects will cost a combined $692,000, with a majority going toward the Flintridge project.
A Road Commission contribution of $107,800 will alleviate some of the cost, and the township will seek 50/50 Drainage funds from the RCOC as well, in the amount of $122,200.
The remaining $462,000 would be paid using Tri-Party funds, close to two years of the program’s funds.
In all, early estimates indicate a cost to the township of $215,100.
The decision to go forward likely means a delay for a drainage improvement project on Grampian, that the Tri-Party dollars had originally been slated for.
Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said an easement issue has delayed action on that project, but it’s still high on the township’s list.
‘It’s unfortunate because it was next on our list,? he said. ‘But if we can get something else going, we’re going to make use of these funds.?
‘I’m glad we can get this situation addressed,’Dywasuk said of the Flintridge and Pine Tree projects.
Concerns of the board included tying up all of their Tri-Party money until 2009, if, in fact, the Grampian project follows the Flintridge/Pine Tree projects.
White Oak Homeowners Association President Rick Hein spoke to the board about concerns of his subdivision, which would like to see paving done on Clarkston Road, from M-24 to Parkview.
‘It’s that proverbial thing where we’ve got more projects than we’ve got money,? Dywasuk said, noting that the township will continue to look for ways to alleviate problems.