TRENTON, Mich. – Officials announced the next steps that will take place to put an overpass at a busy railroad crossing that causes delays for residents and emergency vehicles in Downriver communities.
The road grade separation project is happening at the railroad crossing on M-85 in Trenton.
Rep. Debbie Dingell and the Michigan Department of Transportation along with local and state legislators said that a preliminary engineering and environmental clearance process is necessary to consider all of the options and choose the best solution, according to a release.
Officials expect this initial process to take about 24 months.
Once they determine this, the final design process is expected to take another 24 months.
“For too long, Downriver communities have been dealing with the inconveniences and safety concerns of at-grade railroad intersections, including impeded emergency vehicles and school buses that travel over this rail crossing each day. Currently, police, ambulances, emergency services, and residents deal with significant wait times when trains are passing,” Dingell said. “Building an overpass will improve mobility, reduce emissions, and make this intersection safer. I will work with our state and local leaders as this overpass is constructed, and I remain committed to delivering federal funding to our district to upgrade our infrastructure and improve our communities.”
The project is expected to improve safety and mobility in the area, reduce traffic delays, better emergency response times and eliminate train-vehicle crashes.
Officials will ask for public input throughout the design process, according to the release.
This update on the next steps for the project comes after it was announced earlier this month that the Federal Railroad Administration awarded $73,446,704 to MDOT for this project.
“This crossing, like many across Downriver, has caused headaches for residents, first responders, and local businesses for decades. With this federal funding, we are continuing to put our communities first by investing in our infrastructure and delivering real change to our region,” said Sen. Darrin Camilleri. “This project, in addition to the Allen Road Grade Separation, will not only remedy frustrating delays for our neighbors but also save lives by ensuring that our police, fire and EMS are not blocked from responding to emergencies. I’m grateful for the advocacy and determination of Congresswoman Dingell, Mayor Rzeppa, and our partners at MDOT who are helping to solve one of the foremost challenges here in Downriver.”
The update also comes as the Trump administration moved to freeze federal funding aid. A judge temporarily blocked the order just before it was set to take effect on Tuesday, Jan. 28, through at least 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3.
“So, it’s been an interesting eight days and I’m going to be positive and say to you that I hope President Trump will not disappoint this community by trying to revoke these funds that have been promised, planned for, and are already working...these dollars make a difference in communities, they’re not partisan dollars, they’re dollars that help everybody,” Dingell said during the press conference.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general on Tuesday in filing a lawsuit to stop the implementation of the order.
