MDOT awarded contract for township safety paths

By Dana Casadei

The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees on Monday, May 13, unanimously approved a contract between the township and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to begin the construction of a safety path that will take place along Telegraph Road, Square Lake Road and Franklin Road.

“It seems like we’re getting close to the finish line here where we start construction,” said Corey Almas, director of the engineering & environmental services department. 

This safety path construction has been in the planning stages for years, since 2019 when it was originally discussed. 

On November 11, 2019, the board of trustees approved applying for a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant to design and construct the safety path, which was subsequently awarded. 

TAP grants are a federally funded competitive grant program, awarded and administered by both the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and MDOT.

The TAP grant was awarded to the township in August 2020 for a total of $955,508, and required the township to enter into a third-party agreement with MDOT.

Currently, the safety path’s estimated cost is $1,272,200. However, because of the TAP grant awarded to the township, the safety path construction will only cost Bloomfield Township $316,692, a massive savings that multiple board members commented on. 

“This is a great thing,” said trustee Chris Kolinski. “I’m so happy we were able to do this.”

This safety path will be .8-mile long, and six to eight feet wide, have ADA ramps at applicable intersections and driveways, and three new pedestrian crossing/signal infrastructures at existing locations to interconnect east and west sides of Telegraph Road. 

The area will be dedicated for bicyclists and pedestrians along those three roads.