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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

MDOT to hold M-52 open house Feb. 20

Public encouraged to comment on project's scope for 2009 goal

By Daniel Lai, Editor

PUBLISHED: February 14, 2008

In an effort to solicit public input in the proposed realignment of M-52, the Michigan Department of Transportation will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Village Hall.

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"This is a very informal information gathering event," MDOT spokesman Kari Arend said. "Anyone can show up and talk to a host of MDOT officials including engineers, environmentalists and real estate officials about the project."

In addition, maps of the proposed realignment and the affected area will also be on display, she said.

"Some people like to come and see exactly where their property lies in relation to the project," she said.

The proposed redesign involves squaring up M-52 at the Main Street intersection to give north and southbound traffic along M-52 a straighter path across.

If the project goes through, changes on the north side of the intersection would involve bumping out the sidewalk by the Edward Jones building and creating a 30-foot right turn radius (south M-52 to west Main). The northbound traffic lane would cut through about 40 percent of the current Borek-Jennings Funeral Home property.

"There are some controversial aspects of the project, mainly it involves tree removal and what to do with the funeral home," Arend said. "We definitely want the input of the public to be a large part of this process."

Arend said final decisions on what to do with the funeral home property are still pending. The project's original start date was tentatively scheduled for spring, however the project has now been pushed back to spring 2009.

"We try to hold these open house events a month before the project's start date, and even thought he project has been pushed back, MDOT still wanted to come and get input on the M-52 realignment and educate the public at what 's coming up."

Since the project was first announced in September 2007, support from local municipalities has been increasing.

In January, the Manchester Village Council passed a resolution in favor of the project citing its "direct impact on the focal point of the community's downtown."

Other groups, including the Southwest Washtenaw Council of Governments, Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Community Schools, Manchester, Freedom, Sharon, Bridgewater and Lodi townships have also expressed approval in the project.

"We're getting a lot of support on this," village manager Jeff Wallace said. "The more support we have, the better it is for the project."

Village officials are encouraging residents who attend the open house to fill out comment cards.

"It's not enough to just show up," village president Pat Vailliencourt said. "We need people to physically fill out a comment card so MDOT officials have our voices on record."

Editor Daniel Lai can be reached at 428-8173 or dlai@heritage.com.