Current Status
Updated on February 20, 2008Recently, with Michigan's constant fluctuation in weather conditions, Bemis Road has required additional maintenance work (grading) by the Road Commission, due to the excessive breakup of the roadbed and the number of potholes. In addition, the unusually warm temperatures experienced in January and February of this year has, at times, caused some severe muddy conditions. As a result, several emails and telephone calls have been received from area residents over the past two months, requesting that the Road Commission revisit the option of paving this one-mile segment of local road.
Having its own funding constraints to contend with, the Road Commission is hard-pressed to avail the total estimated $1.5 million it will take to adequately rebuild the existing roadbed and pave Bemis Road. Additionally, in accordance with Public Act 51 of 1951, the Road Commission can only commit 50% of its funds (made available through the Michigan Transportation Fund) to cover the cost for major improvements on a local road; the remaining 50% funding must be contributed through other local resource(s).
Several years ago, the Road Commission began working with the townships and developers to acquire the necessary funds to pave this segment of Bemis Road. Unfortunately, with the downturn in the Michigan economy over the past few years, the housing market in Washtenaw County has been extremely slow. This has resulted in some key subdivisions along Bemis Road being delayed; and as of this date, there has been no word from the developers as to when (or if) they plan to proceed with their developments. Additionally, the school, which had initially committed to providing some of the local funding, may be experiencing financial challenges as well. Therefore, until these developments advance, and the school recommits to its portion of funding, the paving of Bemis Road would have to remain on HOLD; that is, unless the Road Commission can identify alternative local funding sources.
Therefore, at the request of the Washtenaw County Board of Road Commissioners, the Managing Director issued a letter to Augusta and Ypsilanti Townships to explore whether the townships would consider implementing a Special Assessment District (SAD) to garner the funds needed to make the necessary improvements to this local road.
At this time, the Road Commission is awaiting a response from the townships on the SAD proposal to fund the paving of Bemis Road. Please check back to this site for future updates on this effort.
The Road Commission remains committed to maintaining Bemis Road in a reasonably safe condition through routine grading and dust control applications until such time as the paving project can be completed.