Wherever you go, there are work crews in the neighborhoods

DTE work crews are still replacing gas lines in the neighborhoods, which results in parking inconveniences and for some, the tearing up of sidewalk slabs. DTE is replacing the sidewalks.

By Charles Sercombe
You could say this summer was a perfect storm of public repairs.
First there was – and still is – the city’s pothole repairs.
And at the same time, there have been DTE Energy work crews tearing up sidewalks, and in some cases front yards, to replace gas lines.
This is the fourth year for DTE repairs. Work is expected to be completed this year.
While the work causes inconveniences, there is an upside: you are getting new gas lines, and if your sidewalk is ripped up for the project, you will also get a free new sidewalk.
New sidewalk slabs can amount to a savings of several hundred dollars. But there have been complaints about DTE following up on making those repairs.
Mark Ragsdale, the city’s Director of Public Works, said he has been on DTE to speed up replacing sidewalks. He said there are some households who have been waiting since last year for their new sidewalks.
Ragsdale said there have also been some crews who went a little too far in tearing up lawns and shrubbery. He said at least one crew was fired on the spot for causing needless damage.
At the same time gas lines are going in, DTE has been continuing to replace city street lights with energy-saving light bulbs. That is expected to greatly reduce the city’s budget for keeping street lights on.
In the meantime, mind the orange barrels.