Commission Approves Summer Road Projects for Marquette Township
By Amy Polk

St. Martin's Point Road in Marquette Township is slated to receive a chip and seal coating this summer, following verbal confirmation of the project at Mackinac County Road Commission's Tuesday, April 29, meeting.

"Last year we spent $69,000 to put gravel on St. Martin's Point Road, and before we lose all that, we would like to tar and chip it," Supervisor John Kronemeyer said.

The township and Mackinac County Road Commission must have the money to complete the project, and the road commission typically covers one-third of the cost of such projects, Commissioner Lester Livermore said.

Mr. Kronemeyer also asked whether the Simmons Road Project in Marquette Township will be completed this year.

The contract was signed last year, but the project was never started because it wasn't submitted for state approval by former Road Commission Manager Craig Kelso, Mr. Kronemeyer said. Clerk Theresa McPherson said the project has now been submitted.

Three-Mile Road in Marquette Township will receive a gravel application that has been pending, commissioners said, which Mr. Kronemeyer also requested at the Tuesday meeting.

"It's on Bill's (Wagner) list of things to do," Mrs. McPherson said.

Richard Oliver of Portage Township complained about a chip and seal project on Long Point Road, which after two years "is nearly shot," Mr. Oliver said.

He speculated that the "double chip and seal" application had two layers of stone chips on one layer of tar. There are 80- and 90-foot sections of road where the application has worn off, he said.

"At least a third of it is totally gone," he estimated.

Mr. Oliver joined Mr. Kronemeyer in questioning the use of federal road money for several safety projects. Proposed repairs to Rutledge Road in Marquette Township would be a waste of taxpayer money, Mr. Kronemeyer said, since the road receives limited use. A bridge on that road was replaced two years ago, and Mr. Kronemeyer said no one even wanted the bridge replaced.

Safety money would be better spent on Three-Mile Road, which needs some repairs, he said.

Mr. Oliver asked if there is any cap on federal safety projects, and cited a project that corrected Carlson Road in Portage Township. One person lives on that road, Mr. Oliver said.

Commissioners briefly discussed a suggestion from Clark Township to apply crushed limestone to the surface of gravel roads to better retain calcium chloride applications.

Clark Township Supervisor Linda Hudson forwarded information from Genoa Township Manager Mike Archinal about the limestone application.

Calcium chloride or salt brine is applied to gravel roads to suppress dust. The cost is rising with the price of gasoline, and local roads sometimes receive two applications a year.

The chloride solution binds with the limestone on the road's surface, Mr. Archinal said, and creates a harder, longer-lasting surface similar to asphalt.

The idea might be feasible, commissioners said, but at an estimated cost of more than $100,000 a mile, it might not be affordable right now.