By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff Writer
Hadley Twp. — Lapeer County Road Commission Engineer David Vaughn expected the Hadley Road asphalt project to be completed last week, but a smooth ride may be just around the corner.
Originally slated for completion by Sept. 26, the section of Hadley Road between the Lapeer County line and Brocker Road has been delayed due to earth work, tree removal and traffic, said Anne Coursey, project manager for contractor Champagne & Marx Excavating, Inc. of Saginaw, who expects the work to begin wrapping up this week.
“We wanted to disturb the least amount of trees in the area as possible to keep it wooded, but there were a lot more trees we had to take down. It took longer,” said Coursey.
Earth work involved cutting out the hillside near the cemetery on Hadley Road, which was widened and the asphalt crushed into gravel-like pieces before being packed down and shaped in preparation for new asphalt.
Earth work may be a “reason to give an extension,” said Vaughn, adding the contractor is required to pay if the work exceeds the deadline without an approved extension.
Traffic was also a factor in delayed construction, said Coursey.
“We did not see a good place to set up a detour,” Vaughn said. “There just aren’t any good roads in the area capable of handling the traffic. The traffic certainly didn’t help.”
Residents were equally upset by the situation, asserting that the 35 mile-per-hour speed limit was too lenient.
“It was horrible. I broke a running board…My wife had her seat belt on and her chest hurts because of the belt,” said a Brandon Township resident who worried about school buses and emergency vehicles traveling the road.
“You have to drive according to conditions,” said Vaughn, who feels there is no good solution to the rough road conditions during construction.
“If you grade the road, people will drive faster,” he said. “Buses have to drive at a reasonable speed and not tear through there. Unfortunately we couldn’t get it at the point where we could get it right through the summer.”
Vaughn estimates the road should last a minimum of eight years.
“Hopefully it will last 15 years before it has to be resurfaced and 30 years before it has to be rebuilt, but development may drive that more than the condition of the road,” said Vaughn.
The cost of the project has been estimated at $660,000; due to the extra work the actual amount will not be finalized until spring, said Vaughn.