Road repairs continue to expand, including on Conant

This past summer was the season of road repaving in and around Hamtramck. Next year’s plan includes repaving Conant Ave.

By Charles Sercombe
The year 2020 is going to be remembered for a lot of things, but in Hamtramck one of the welcomed developments has been road repairs.
First up, the Holbrook repaving project is continuing, from Jos. Campau to Lumpkin. This is the second half of the project, which also included last year’s repaving of Holbrook from Jos. Campau to Conant.
Although we don’t have details on this, Carpenter has new asphalt pavement, from Dequindre to Conant. Carpenter had been one of the worst potholed streets in the city.
The City of Detroit handled that project. Also repaved recently was Jos. Campau, from Carpenter to Davison.
You can now add Conant to the list.
The county-owned road had been repaved east of Carpenter recently, but that project stopped at the Hamtramck border.
After years of complaining, the county will now continue with that project, and repave Conant from Carpenter to Holbrook.
To move the project along, Dr. Khaled Al-Masmari, a Hamtramck chiropractor, wrote to county officials, urging them to move the project along.
In his letter to the county, he said, in part:
“Wayne County must address the hazardous conditions of our most dangerous roadways. The roads in Conant street have been neglected for too long and are in horrendous condition.
“Cracks in the road, potholes, poor lighting conditions, and poor water drainage are apparent throughout the street. Residents complain that water gathers at the side of these roads, causing the curbs and driveways to crack, crumble and deteriorate.
“Years of neglect left these streets in very hazardous conditions, causing properties to flood, motor vehicle damage, and physical injuries. There is also a lack of garbage cans which causes an increase in the litter along the roads, on the streets, and on sidewalks.
“This has invited insects, rats, and unpleasant odors that bring health hazards to the community.
“We are asking the County to do their diligent duty and do what needs to be done to protect our families and save our businesses.”
Residents will have to wait until next spring for the repaving of Conant to begin, said Hamtramck City Manager Kathy Angerer.
And there is possibly even more good news about street repaving for Hamtramck.
Recently, the city council allocated $500,000 to continue its alley repaving project, and also to repave the city parking lot on Caniff and McDougall.
City Manager Angerer submitted cost estimates for repaving the worst sections of alleys and the parking lot.
Unfortunately, the estimates came over budget by about more than $154,000.
But the total costs won’t be known until bids are submitted.
Here is the list of repairs being recommended:

SUMMARY OF 4 ALLEYS
1. Alley West of Conant 2 – Evaline to Yemans $ 60,390.00
2. Alley West of Conant 3 – Yemans to Belmont $ 60,390.00
3. Alley West of Conant 4 – Belmont to Trowbridge $ 58,870.00
4. Alley West of Joseph Campau 1 – Belmont to Yemans $ 58,870.00
CONSTRUCTION TOTAL $ 238,520.00
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN $ 32,000.00
CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION AND TESTING (30 DAYS AT $528/DAY) $ 15,840.00
CONSTRUCTION TESTING (1.5%) $ 3,577.80
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION (2%) $ 4,770.40
GRAND TOTAL $ 294,708.20

SUMMARY OF 2 ADDITIONAL ALLEYS
5. Alley West of Conant 1 – Comstock to Holbrook $ 56,600.00
6. Alley East of Joseph Campau 2 – Belmont to Yemans $ 55,840.00
CONSTRUCTION TOTAL $ 112,440.00
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN $ 16,000.00
CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION AND TESTING (30 DAYS AT $528/DAY) $ 15,840.00
CONSTRUCTION TESTING (1.5%) $ 1,686.60
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION (2%) $ 2,248.80
GRAND TOTAL $ 148,215.40

SUMMARY OF PARKING LOT REPLACEMENT
McDougal and Caniff Parking Lot $ 177,210.00
CONSTRUCTION TOTAL $ 177,210.00
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN $ 12,000.00
CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION AND TESTING (30 DAYS AT $528/DAY) $ 15,840.00
CONSTRUCTION TESTING (1.5%) $ 2,658.15
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION (2%) $ 3,544.20
TOTAL PARKING LOT $ 211,252.35

Posted Oct. 9, 2020