The construction project for Sashabaw and Waldon roads and I-75 is on hold for at least a month.
Scheduled to begin in May, the project is about $300,000 short. Since it was first planned, the cost to complete the project has gone up about $1 million.
‘Increases are due to changes in construction safety standards, new highway construction requirements and a heavier than anticipated workload for contractors,? said Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle.
Bids opened for the project on March 23, and Kittle said township officials were shocked at the increase in project costs.
‘Needless to say, we have been scrambling to fully identify the issues that drove the cost increase and looking for alternative funding sources,? said Kittle.
The now $5 million dollar project was originally projected to cost $4 million when planned two years ago.
Funds for the project includes $1.5 from McLaren Health Care, $1.6 million in tri-party funding $672,000 in state funding and the remainder of funding from monies generated from tax increment financing.
Due to the increase in project costs, the township secured additional funding, by way of in-kind services from Road Commission for Oakland County. Additional money will also come from tri-party funding.
Kittle said officials will meet with RCOC, Michigan Department of Transportation, McLaren and other involved parties to discuss funding options.
The project includes widening the intersection at Sashabaw and Waldon roads, adding dual left hand turn lanes on east bound Waldon, constructing a new ramp to southbound Sashabaw Road from northbound I-75 and adding a dedicated left turn lane from north Sashabaw Road to northbound 1-75.
A special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, for recommendations to bring to the Board of Trustees during the April 15 meeting.
‘We want to make sure a solid plan that is 100 percent funded is put together before we proceed,? said Kittle. ‘We have no intention of writing a check when we don’t have the money in the bank.?
For more details on the project visit the Independence Township website at www.twp.independence.mi.us