In the wake of a fiery fatal crash on I-75, the Michigan Department of Transportation has announced plans to install guardrails in the median south of M-15.
‘We are going to fill in that gap,? said MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi. ‘We have every intention of completing it by this fall.?
Local public safety officials last week lamented the lack of guardrails in the April 30 tragedy which took three lives and caused five vehicles to catch fire. The combination of high-speed traffic, curved pavement and generally level medians have contributed to multiple fatal emergencies on I-75 through Independence Township.
Officials also credited newly-installed guardrails north of M-15 for preventing a major disaster when a semi-truck overturned earlier this year.
Morosi said there are some ‘issues? which may affect construction. Crews must relocate some utility lines and redesign drainage in some places, for example. There are also ‘fabrication issues,? Morosi said, in relation to fulfilling orders for steel to build the guardrails themselves.
‘We had a project in the pipeline,? Morosi said, but recent events have led to making this a priority. ‘Every effort will be made? to complete the project this year.
After last weekend’s crash, Independence Township Fire Chief Steve Ronk said township officials needed to demand immediate attention to the lack of guardrails in the area.
Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Independence Township substation of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, thought there were plans to install the guardrails, but was glad to hear those plans were accelerated.
‘We’re tired of cleaning ’em up,? LaBair said of the frequent serious crashes on I-75. ‘It’s too bad people had to get killed over the thing.?
The April 30 crash occurred when a southbound 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck crossed the median, striking a northbound 2004 Jeep Cherokee. The crash spread burning gasoline which caused three other vehicles to catch fire.
Michigan State Police on Monday were still waiting to see if an autopsy of the offending driver will shed any clues as to what caused him to cross the median.