Groveland Twp.- The ride through the township is going to be just a little smoother next summer.
Another disbursement of federal stimulus funds will be released next week and Scott Sintkowski, Road Commission for Oakland County highway maintenance staff engineer is reporting that some of the more than $70 million earmarked for road work in the county will be used in the township.
At an estimated cost of $750,000, a 4.09 mile segment of Grange Hall Road from Dixie Highway to Jossman Road will be resurfaced with one and one-half inches of asphalt in June 2010. The road shoulder will be expanded to three feet in many locations and gravel added.
‘Prior to the release of the stimulus money last year the Road Commission designated about 350 miles of roads that need work,? said Sintkowski.
‘So we did estimates for all roads, evaluating pavement and overall condition. The section of Grange Hall Road was in need of repair and selected for the project.?
The road project should take about two weeks to complete and could start in late June as soon as the school year is complete, said Sintkowski.
Oakland County officials say that about $50 million in stimulus money has been earmarked for road projects in the county since the projects were announced last year.
Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said he was unaware the project was being considered by the county.
‘We talked about the project back in spring when the stimulus money was discussed,? he said.
‘But nothing came of it when projects were announced. I never knew about a second round of disbursements.?
With the exception of a $53,000 energy grant, DePalma said the township never applied for the stimulus money since no projects in the township at the time were shovel ready, a requirement for the federal funds.
President Barack Obama inked a $787 billion stimulus plan in early 2009 designed to revive the economy and save millions of jobs.