WHEREAS, Pittsfield Township has received $30 million for improvements to the Michigan Avenue corridor, between Platt Road and Carpenter, after a decade of advocacy by the Supervisor’s Office and after the need for the same having been discussed by regional leaders since the 1980s; and 

WHEREAS, this project will fully re-construct the bridge at the US12/US23 interchange, which will include re-aligning the ramps, expanding the existing cross-section, and providing for a 10’ non-motorized pathway at the bridge with the rest of corridor supporting a four-lane cross section with a center turn lane along with 8’ paved shoulders; and

WHEREAS, the first public forum for this project, scheduled for construction in 2022, was held by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on November 12, 2020 with a subsequent presentation made at the January 27, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting; and 

WHEREAS, our approach to implementing infrastructure improvement projects in Pittsfield Township includes taking into account and responding to the needs and concerns of our residents; and

WHEREAS, to that end, we have identified an urgent need to provide for safer left-turn lanes from the neighborhoods of Warner Creek and Harwood Farms subdivision, in particular from Sauk Trail and Campbell/Warner onto Michigan Avenue;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees respectfully requests MDOT to undertake the requisite due diligence to implement solutions to provide for enhanced safety of Pittsfield Township residents accessing Michigan Avenue to/from both Warner Creek, Harwood Farms, and other adjacent residential neighborhoods such as Hunters Ridge; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees looks forward to our continued partnership with MDOT to ensure the successful completion of this incredibly important infrastructure project in Pittsfield Township.