$500K in safety improvements are coming to these Jackson County roads

MLive File Photo.J. Scott Park | MLive.com JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Three Jackson

MLive File Photo.J. Scott Park | MLive.com

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Three Jackson County roads will see work next year designed to make them safer.

At its Tuesday, Sept. 20 meeting, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved using grant money from the Michigan Department of Transportation's High Risk Rural Roads program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program for the work.

N. Concord, Moscow and Rives Junction roads all will see safety improvements to improve visibility as a result, said Bret Taylor, Jackson County Department of Transportation engineer.

"Each of these roads has had a severe injury or fatality crash on them within the last five years, which made them eligible for this funding," Taylor said. "This project will seek to reduce the number or severity of any road departure crashes on these roads."

The work on N. Concord Road will take place from M-60 to Hutchison Road, while Moscow Road will see improvements from Masker Road to M-60 and the Rives Junction Road project will be from Springport Road to Cook Street.

The work specifically calls for tree removal, guardrail work and additional sign and pavement markings, Taylor said.

"The tree work will remove trees in the right of way that have been identified as a roadside hazard," Taylor said. "Removal of these trees will give vehicles a safe place to come to a rest should they leave the roadway.

Guardrail work will include upgrading guardrail endings to current standards, Taylor said, adding that existing guardrail ends were installed 20 to 30 years ago, while the newer standards take into account heavier and taller vehicles.

"The new end treatments allow impacting vehicles to decelerate at a rate tolerable for vehicle occupants, which in turn decreases risk of injury or worse," he said.

Additionally, current signs with low retro reflectivity will be replaced with new signs, Taylor said. "No Passing Zone/Pass With Care" signs also will be added in appropriate areas on these roads, along with additional curve advisory signs, he said.

The new signposts will also be fitted with a reflective sheeting to draw motorist's attention, he said.

"This is what we call ‘lollypopping’ the signs because it looks like a lollypop," Taylor said. "So, the warning signs are more visible, particularly at night, which will improve safety."

The project will go to bid on the county's website on Friday, Oct. 7. It is expected to cost around $521,600. Of that, $468,972 is provided by the grant with the remaining $58,628 to be paid by JCDOT.

Work is expected to begin in December or January, and will be completed in October 2023, Taylor said, adding that tree removals are allowed from Oct. 1 to March 31 each year.

Traffic will be maintained during the work, Taylor said. Short delays should be expected when trees are being removed, he said.

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$500K in safety improvements are coming to these Jackson County roads