Good news for drivers who hate traveling the bumpy, gravel stretch of Ray Rd. between Meijer and N. Oxford Rd. ? federal funds are on the way to pave it!
After attending a meeting of the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force Funding Committee on Tuesday, Oxford Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari was pleased to report the community is slated to receive up to $1.5 million for the paving of Ray Road.
‘It’s a significant benefit because many of our students use that road to travel to (the high) school,? Ferrari said.
The money would come from the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama last week.
Based on the information Ferrari’s gathered, it appears the entire project might cost about $1.2 million, meaning the whole thing could be covered by federal funds.
However, should the project cost more than $1.5 million, Ferrari said the township would likely have to pay a portion of the overrun along with the road commission and county.
As for when motorists will see Ray Road’s pothole-riddled gravel turned into smooth asphalt, the treasurer said, ‘They’re looking at starting sometime in the fall and hopefully getting it done this year.?
‘But it may go into next year, depending on the construction season.?
‘They’re still in the process of finalizing everything,? he explained, noting the road commission is about halfway through the design phase.
Ferrari said the Ray Road paving was originally scheduled to be done in 2010-11.
Paving this stretch of Ray Road is a definite need, according to Ferrari, because it’s ‘very heavily travelled? due to OHS and Meijer. Harsh weather conditions frequently leave the gravel surface in rough shape.
‘That road can be very treacherous and very unsafe,? Ferrari said. ‘This will help eliminate those safety issues.?
The treasurer said the township’s also looking into installing about 1,600 feet safety path along that stretch of Ray Road.
That project could cost about $30,000 between design and construction.
Right now, there’s more than enough in the township’s safety path fund to cover the new path, according to Ferrari, but the road commission is looking into whether or not federal stimulus money could be used instead.