‘Deplorable.?
It was a word used by three different White Oak subdivision residents to describe the condition of East Clarkston Road at last week’s township board meeting.
Their subdivision is accessed through E. Clarkston, a gravel road that frequently serves as a cut through from M-24 to Orion Road.
Rick Hein, Sue Hughes and Mark Wellman all spoke of the worsening condition of the road and hope that action taken by the township is the first step toward a long-term solution.
‘The bottom line is that we get traffic counts over three thousand cars a day, and the gravel road is built for just 1,500,? said Hein, representing the White Oak Homeowners Association.
‘This is getting to be a very serious situation,? he added. ‘Let’s recognize that this road is well beyond the limitations of a normal gravel road.?
The board put E. Clarkston on a list that includes Buckner, Coats, Conklin, Laird, Newman and Stanton. Based on a suggestion from Trustee Neal Porter, the board authorized township engineers to present a cost estimate at their April 2 meeting.
The cost would be for grade 21AA gravel, with the road commission providing labor and equipment for repair.
The roads are under the jurisdiction of the county, and the board’s motions called for coordination with Road Commissioner Eric Wilson, and for Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk to contact the RCOC regarding drainage ditches along the gravel roads.
‘There are at least three miles, maybe four, that need to be taken care of,? Porter said. ‘It’s going to take about $100,000 to do what I’m talking about. But I want to see us make our gravel roads passable.?
Dywasuk and engineer Jim Stevens said the variable temperatures in the last month have made the grading process difficult.
‘From my understanding, there’s nothing we can do until we get a complete thaw,? Dywasuk said. ‘But this is the worst we’ve seen in five or six years.?
Board members said their hope is that the process can move quickly, so work can begin as soon as the thaw hits.
For his part, Hein said actions speak louder than words.
‘Anything with government, I’ve got to see the results,? he said. ‘We’ve talked a lot about it.?
Still, Hein, who has even discussed the issue with County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, said he believes this time the talk will have positive results.
‘I think the township is trying to work with the road commission,? he said. ‘Everyone realizes the problem.?
Lieutenant Bruce Naile, from the Orion Substation of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, also encouraged quick action, noting that response times and the ability of his patrol are cut down because of bad gravel road conditions.
‘It will help us, and everyone will benefit,? Naile said.
Wilson said all the roads on the township’s list are in need of work and added that engineers are looking at innovative ways to fix the roads on a long-term basis.
‘We have the equipment, so it’s great that they’re going to put some money on the table,? he said of the township.
Hein noted that putting the right amount of money into the road now could save the township and road commission from another year of weekly visits.
‘If we just dealt with the problem up front, we could solve the issue and put that money in other parts of the township,? he said.
All involved say they would like to see a solution within the next month, but much of that will depend on the findings to be announced at Monday’s board meeting.
Hein said he, along with many others from the White Oak subdivision, plan to be in attendance.
‘Hopefully with the help of the township, addressing it directly with them, will make a difference,? Hein said.
‘The road is a lot worse than it was a year ago. But this is the first time the township has taken action and talked about a longer-term solution.?
Wilson added that it’s all about having the right resources. ‘You do the best job you can with the dollars you have,? he said.
‘We definitely want to fix Clarkston and all of those other roads.?