Lotz, Ford road project designs 'moving along' in Canton

Canton motorists weary of traffic congestion along Ford Road could get a glimpse as early as February of two projects officials believe will begin to ease the problem.

One project involves a $5 million effort to pave the pothole-riddled section of Lotz Road between Ford and Cherry Hill, giving motorists a north-south option to avoid heavily traveled roads such as Ford and Haggerty.

A second project centers on improvements such as lengthening turn lanes and improving ramps near the I-275/Ford area from Haggerty to Lotz. That comes as a precursor to longer-term effort to possibly convert Ford into a boulevard through much of Canton.

Canton is expected to host a public meeting as early as February to reveal plans for the Lotz paving and the initial phase of Ford Road work from Lotz to Haggerty, Municipal Services Director Tim Faas said.

Canton already has received from Wayne County a $274,015 payment that allowed the township to hire an engineering company, Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc., to design the Lotz Road paving, which Faas said is slated for completion in 2015.

Spalding DeDecker already has completed about 50 percent of the engineering work, Faas said. Lotz will be transformed from a dirt-and-gravel road into a three-lane paved thoroughfare.

Canton has worked with Wayne County on the Lotz Road project, funded through the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy said he is encouraged Spalding DeDecker's work is progressing and Wayne County has paid Canton for its role in hiring the engineering company.

"That's very good news," LaJoy said, adding the project "is moving along."

Moreover, Faas said MDOT's design of the initial improvements to Ford Road between Lotz and Haggerty has been 90 percent completed.

Local officials say the projects slated for the upcoming public meeting reflect the beginning of larger efforts, as money is allocated, to address Ford Road traffic congestion that has long troubled local officials and motorists alike.

As read on: http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/canton/2014/12/28/lotz-road-paving-canton/20904637/