Walkway planned at Big Beaver, Woodward

A pedestrian crossing planned across Woodward at Big Beaver Road at the Bloomfield Township/Birmingham border will be paid for by both the city and township under an intergovernmental agreement approved on Monday, July 22, by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees.

Olivia Olsztyn-Budry, director of engineering and environmental services for the township, said the project is included in the township's 2019 safety path program, which was approved by trustees in October of 2018.

"Currently, there is a pedestrian crossing in the north-south direction on the east side of Woodward Avenue," she said. "The city of Birmingham is interested in completing a pedestrian crossing in the east-west direction (across Woodward) on the south side of Big Beaver Road to connect Bloomfield Township to the city. Birmingham has also made improvements to the southwest corner of the intersection."

Because the project includes property in both Birmingham and Bloomfield Township, the cost will be shared between the two municipalities, as instructed through an intergovernmental agreement.

Under the agreement, the total cost is estimated to cost about $68,742, with the township responsible for about $29,808 and the city of Birmingham responsible for about $32,634, with both municipalities providing 10 percent contingency costs.

Under the agreement, Bloomfield Township would obtain the contract for the work and manage the project, then bill the city of Birmingham upon completion of the work. The cost estimates are based on the amount of work conducted in each community, rather than a 50 percent split.

Olsztyn-Budry said the township put the project out to bid to more than 200 contractors on the MITN BidNet network, with only one contractor responding, which came in higher than the township's estimate of the project. She recommended rejecting that bid, but instead included it in the township's overall safety path projects while attempting to secure a lower bid amount.

Trustees unanimously approved the agreement, which is expected to go before the Birmingham City Commission in August for consideration.