Road Commission Seeks Federal Funding for 16 Projects
By Amy Polk

At the Tuesday, March 11, Mackinac County Road Commission meeting, Manager Karrie Abbitt described 16 projects she will seek federal funding for, including 14 safety projects and two High Risk Rural Roads projects. If awarded, the money would be available for the 2009 construction season.

Mrs. Abbitt told The St. Ignace News that road grants are competitive, and Mackinac County would be fortunate to get federal funding for even one of the 16 projects. Grants are awarded through the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) program.

The federal road safety funding program awards money to projects of highest priority for that year. Projects are rated by how dangerous and costly they are, based on accident history, and those with the highest rating will be selected and funded that year.

Roads with the fastest rate of return, meaning they will save enough in accident costs to replace the cost of the road, get the highest ratings. Repairs to North Gould City Road, for example, have an estimated one year rate of return.

"It's how they measure their 'bang for the buck,'" Mrs. Abbitt said.

Safety projects are eligible for 80% federal funding and High Risk roads are eligible for 90% federal funding. Road commissions typically pay the rest.

Commissioner Commission Chair Frank Luepnitz questioned whether the Mackinac County Road Commission will have enough money to pay its portion next year, if projects are selected.

"A lot of counties are saying they don't even have the money to match these grants," Mr. Luepnitz said.

Mrs. Abbitt emphasized that projects may not be ranked the same by federal administrators as they are locally, so many of these projects might not get funded this year.

2009 Proposed High

Risk Rural Roads Projects

North Gould City Road in Portage Township - correct a vertical curve (dip in the road) by filling in with gravel 0.3 miles south of Camp A Road;

H-40 in Garfield Township - straighten a horizontal curve in the road one mile west of Black River Road.

2009 Proposed

Safety Projects

Mrs. Abbitt applied for funding for the following projects, listed in order of county priority:

Meridian Road in Clark Township - pedestrian walkway over Pearson Creek;

Wartella Road in Brevort Township - tree removal;

Mackinac Trail in St. Ignace Township - approaches to Carp River Bridge and guardrail;

Krause Road in Garfield Township - slope flattening and drainage improvements on 0.5 mile of Brown Road;

Black Point Road between Brevort and Moran townships - realignment of horizontal curve;

Sandtown Road in Portage Township - realignment of horizontal curve;

Sandtown Road in Portage Township - realignment of four curves;

Epoufette Bay Road in Hendricks Township - remove approximately 670 feet of guardrail and flatten slope;

Lant Road in St. Ignace Township - remove approximately 350 feet of guardrail and flatten slope;

McGahn Road in Portage Township - realign horizontal curve and correct a vertical curve;

Point LaBarbe Road in Moran Township - remove guardrail, create embankment, flatten slope;

Rutledge Road in Marquette Township - realign road approaching Rutledge Road Bridge;

Schaeffer Road in Moran Township - remove roadside obstructions and flatten slope at the Worth Road intersection;

Swede Road in Clark Township - realign horizontal curve five miles east of M-129.