Macomb County Police and Fire scanner issued the following announcement on July 27.
From the Macomb Daily regarding the Romeo Plank expansion:
“Romeo Plank Road in Macomb Township will be widened from two to five lanes likely in 2023, following approval of a key chunk of the project by a pair of Macomb County Board of Commissioners committees. The county and township will split the nearly $5 million cost of the project for right-of-way acquisitions and preliminary engineering work. County Roads Engineer Scott Wanagat said the work will be similar to the 23 Mile Road widening project that is ongoing. Supervisor Frank Viviano said the Romeo Plank project has been “in the works for some time now” and despite the construction being two years away, approvals were needed now for the engineering, traffic studies and right-of-way purchases. But any blip could delay the project. “If everything goes smoothly, we’ll start construction in 2023,” he said. The Audit, Finance and Budget and Public Services committees last week gave preliminary approval to the projects during a joint meeting. The full board is expected to provide final approval. These projects, along with others in the township, are sorely needed to reduce traffic congestion. “Romeo Plank backs up for a mile during rush hour; I’ve been in it,” Viviano said. “We certainly have no shortage of needs for moving traffic. Congestion is terrible throughout northern Macomb County.”
Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano. This project and the planned extension of Garfield Road north will provide significant relief for north-south motorists in the next few years, he noted. Concern about delays in both projects remain because progress on all projects in Michigan has slowed over the past 16 months due to the material and labor shortages spawning from the COVID-19 pandemic, as costs have increased and contractors’ availability has decrease. “It’s all about supply and demand,” Viviano said. “We’re going to be more a little more conservative in the future to make sure we come under projections.” Viviano said the current Hall Road project cost rose due to the situation, forcing the township to kick in extra money. The state Department of Transportation is in the process of rebuilding 4-1/2 miles of M-59 in Clinton, Macomb, Harrison and Chesterfield Townships from Romeo Plank to I-94 in two phases this year and next year. The widening on 23 Mile Road in the township has been taking place for years, with one more phase to go after this year’s section is completed. That project was a top priority due to the roadway serving as a major east-west throughway between the Van Dyke and Interstate 94 freeways and alternative to Hall Road for commuters and industrial traffic.”
Original source can be found here.
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