MDOT to take over building of pedestrian bridge over I-94

The Michigan Department of Transportation has decided to take over construction of the proposed pedestrian bridge along Belleville Road over I-94 if the Van Buren Township Downtown Development Authority would agree to sweep snow from it.
That was the report from DDA Executive Director Susan Ireland at the regular meeting July 26.
“I’m doing my happy dance,” Ireland told the board.
She said the MDOT will use the $250,000 SEMCOG grant for the project, plus the $250,000 grant MDOT would have approved, if VBT would pay the $1.2 million it had planned to pay.
Also, MDOT wants the other pedestrian bridge over I-94 to the west connected to the new bridge by sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. Ireland said the land by Wendy’s isn’t suitable for a sidewalk, but the DDA could put one along the South I-94 Service Drive between the two bridges.
She said she would work with the MDOT on that stipulation.
“This is alleviating our liability factor,” Ireland said, since MDOT would own it and would take over all the design and engineering.
She said MDOT is not opposed to the township putting signs on the bridge to promote the township.
“It saves us about $1 million,” Ireland said.
MDOT decided to move forward with the pedestrian overpass after the Federal Highway Administration said it is supportive of a non-motorized pedestrian overpass over I-94 on Belleville Road.
In other business at the July 26 meeting, the DDA:
• Accepted its 2015 financial audit that has an undesignated fund balance of $609. Ireland said she wants to have all the DDA’s funds designated, which is very fiscally responsible;
• Heard Ireland report that Canon has removed the questionable plantings at the Belleville/Ecorse road intersection and installed replacements. Additional work requested by Wayne County has been completed. Keys have been provided to the DPW for meter reading of the irrigation system;
• Heard Ireland report the process of acquiring Belleville Road rights of way is moving forward, with a closed-door session at the end of the meeting to consider more purchase of real property;
• Heard Ireland report on how the reconfiguring of the building department is complete and she and Deputy Director Lisa Lothringer have moved into their new offices;
• Heard Lothringer announce the sculpture brochure, a shared project with the Belleville DDA, has been delivered and is being distributed within the community. She also listed all her online promotions for the DDA; and
• Went into closed-door session to consider buying property and then went into open session to purchase five pieces of right of way property along Belleville Road between Tyler and Ecorse. Ireland said other pieces of property have been acquired already on the east and west sides of Belleville Road in that area. She said the DDA has a goal of owning 27 feet of property along each side of the roadway for future use.