Right of way for safety paths approved on Maple

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved on Monday, April 13, a cost sharing agreement with the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) for a right of way easement procurement for safety paths to be built on the north side of Maple Road when RCOC reconstructs Maple between Franklin and Inkster roads in 2021. Olivia Olsztyn-Budry, director of engineering and environmental services, explained RCOC will be performing a mill and overlay on Maple Road in 2021, with curb and gutter removal and replacement, center turn lane extensions, addition and extension of acceleration and deceleration lanes, extensive right-of-way modifications, and replacing the existing culvert under Maple Road between Norham Road and Castle Drive. She said the work is funded by federal revenue through Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Local Agency Plan, which has strict submittal dates for all aspects of the project. “Construction of a safety path on the north side of Maple Road was added to the safety path master plan in 2018. The portion from Inkster Road to Westmoor Road was approved by the board of trustees on November 11, 2019 for construction in 2020. This route provides safe pedestrian access to Knollwood Pointe and Apple Grove condominium complexes, and the Braes of Bloomfield subdivision,” Olsztyn-Budry said, and the RCOC has agreed to incorporate the township's safety path into their Maple Road construction project for next year. However, she said, “In order for the RCOC to perform the necessary Maple Road construction and the construction of the safety path, additional right-of-way is needed from two adjacent properties: Apple Grove Condominium, and Knollwood Pointe Condominium,” which currently only have 33-feet available from the centerline of Maple. The total cost to the township to provide temporary easements, additional safety path right of way and landscape damages is $37,987, which would come from the safety path budget.