Negaunee Township Supervisor Gary Wommer addresses dozens of residents during a public information session about the proposed extension of County Road 510 on Thursday as Michigan Department of Transportation, Marquette County Road Commission and other township officials look on. The proposed project could close the east intersection of U.S. 41 and Midway Drive in favor of a more direct route to CR 510. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

NEGAUNEE — Dozens of Negaunee Township residents braved the ice and snow Thursday to attend a public information session at the Negaunee Township Hall where the possible extension of Marquette County Road 510 was discussed.

The meeting, which featured a presentation by the Marquette County Road Commission, allowed attendees to ask questions and voice concerns about the proposed plan, which involves changes to the east intersection of Midway Drive and U.S. 41.

The goal of the proposed project is to reduce traffic on Midway Drive east of County Road 510 to provide safer access to U.S. 41 and a safer travel corridor on Midway Drive and County Road 510 for all road users, officials said.

A representative from the Michigan Department of Transportation as well as several Negaunee Township officials were in attendance.

Negaunee Township Supervisor Gary Wommer said the plan was in the “very preliminary” stages.

“I would like to caution you, that before you form any opinions, the road hasn’t been built,” Wommer said. “It may not be built. We are in the finding stage, we are looking for fact and feasibility.”

There are several reasons to change the configuration, officials say. In addition to accident risk due to poor sight lines at the current easterly intersection of Midway Drive and U.S. 41, road commission officials say an elimination of the weight limit on the CR 510 bridge has increased truck traffic throughout the corridor and Midway Drive, which is a largely residential area.

Jim Iwanicki, engineer-manager at the road commission, said changing the location of the intersection would be a good solution, but would not solve all the traffic problems in that area.

“We know that the intersection at the east end of CR 502 (Midway Drive) and U.S. 41 is an issue. What we have in our control at the road commission is changing where that is,” Iwanicki said. “Could we build up 502 a little bit? Yes we could do that and spend a couple of dollars to do that. But we don’t think that solves the problem of better sight distance. Making that a different location is a much safer option. Not perfect, but safer.”

Township resident Ray Carlson was one of several attendees who spoke in support of the plan, in large part because the current configuration of the Midway Drive intersection is “dangerous.”

“Right now ingress and egress on the east end of Midway Drive is a nightmare,” Carlson said. “Anything would be better than what is there now.”

Several other attendees expressed concerns about the plan to extend the county road. One of the most prevalent issues was whether logging or other hauling trucks would be able to get up the hill at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Brebner Road, while others were concerned about property owners along the proposed routes being “pushed off” of their property.

The engineering estimates for the proposed project are about $500,000, officials said.

One of the funding options the road commission is pursuing is an MDOT Category F Grant, which centers on all-season truck routes. Funding from that grant option is capped at $375,000 and requires a 20% local match, Iwanicki said.

He said although the township roads are owned and operated by the road commission, none of its $9 million annual budget comes from property tax dollars, so the commission has to rely on local units of government for some projects.

“The reason we are trying to partner with the township to obtain some right-of-way acquisition is we need all the local help we can get to get the grant dollars to make it happen,” Iwanicki said. “It is important that we partner with the township to get this done because it is a local issue as well as a county-wide issue.”

Township officials will form an ad hoc citizens committee to help them explore the issue further. The proposed project would be slated for 2023 in conjunction with an MDOT project on U.S. 41.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.