Gravel roads, frozen culverts create concerns, county says

By Nicole Tuttle Voice Reporter

A message from the Macomb County Department of Roads was recently posted on the Macomb Township website, warning drivers to beware of ruts in thawing gravel roads and water back-up in open ditches, driveway culverts and cross roadway culverts.

Macomb Township has experienced the snowiest winter in 104 years and the coldest in 35 years, the posted message read. The Macomb County Department or Roads has indicated that the frost has reached a depth of 48 inches. This will create two areas of concern for roadways in the area.

Gravel roads thawing out after a cold winter can become soft, rutty and sometimes impassable, according to the notice. The notice also indicates that open ditches, driveway culverts and cross roadway culverts are frozen and can cause water back-up that flows over roads and driveways until they thaw.

Hoepfner said that he sent an e-mail with the gravel road and culvert information to all township supervisors several weeks ago.

We warn them that we know it is going to happen, and we are doing all we can to make repairs and corrections as they occur, Hoepfner said.

Hoepfner said that the department of roads is aware that 24 Mile and Luchtman roads in Macomb Township are presently rough.

Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs said that the area between Foss and Romeo Plank on 24 Mile Road is one area to be particularly careful of as the frost departs.

It creates conditions that make it really sloppy and bumpy Anytime you are on a gravel road this time of year, you need to use caution, Koehs said.

The Macomb County Department of Roads 2014 Construction Program schedule lists 24 Mile Road east of Romeo Plank to Foss as scheduled for paving at a total cost of about $1.1 million. The listed estimated start date is August 2014 with an estimated completion date of November 2014. Continued...

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Gravel roads, frozen culverts create concerns, county says