The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Volume 3 | Issue 2 Winter 2017 Beyond Roads The Little Rapids Restoration Project

Page 8

IN THIS ISSUE: g Innovation Alley: Road Surface Treatments

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BROWNSTOWN TWP. KALKASKA GRAND RAPIDS KALAMAZOO NOVI 19500 DIX-TOLEDO HWY. 3990 U.S. HIGHWAY 131 7700 CATERPILLAR CT. 5140 MEREDITH ST. 24800 NOVI ROAD BROWNSTOWN TWP.,Ml 48183 KALKASKA,Ml49646 GRAND RAPIDS,Ml 49548 PORTAGE,Ml 49002 NOVI,Ml 48375 (734) 479-5800 (231) 258-8265 (616) 827-8000 (269) 383-7880 (248) 349-4800

MACOMB SAGINAW LANSING BYRON CENTER BROWNSTOWN TWP. 12550 23 MILE ROAD 3141 WOLF ROAD 7650 MILLETT HWY. 6190 CLYDE PARK AVE SW 2625 W. SIBLEY CT. SHELBY TWP,Ml 48315 SAGINAW,Ml 48601 LANSING,Ml 48917 BYRON CENTER,Ml 49315 BROWNSTOWN TWP. Ml 48193 (586) 997-5300 (989) 752-7300 (517) 699-4800 (616) 530-2233 (734) 225-2292

NILES TRAVERSE CITY GALESBURG MIDLAND WIXOM LANSING 2147 S 11TH ST, 4195 MEADOW LANE DR 144 N. 33RD ST. 3213 SOUTH SAGINAW RD 52700 PONTIAC TRAIL 7825 NORTHPORT DR NILES, Ml 49120 TRAVERSE CITY,Ml 49685 GALESBURG,Ml 49053 MIDLAND,Ml 48640 WIXOM, Ml 48393 LANSING,Ml 48917 (269) 262-4600 (231) 932-2255 (269) 665-7608 (989) 496-7511 (248) 714-8300 (517) 394-2233 1-888-CAT-RENT \N\N\N.michigancat.com The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

IN THIS ISSUE

Crossroads is the quarterly publication of the County Road Association (CRA) 4 PRESIDENT’S CORNER of Michigan. The 83 county members of CRA represent the unified, credible and effective voice for a safe and efficient local road system in Michigan. 6 MEMBER PROFILE Mackinac County Road Commission. The Association, headquartered three blocks north of the State Capitol, is dedicated to helping members promote and maintain a safe, efficient county 8 BEYOND ROADS road system including stewardship of the county road right-of-way in rural The Little Rapids Restoration Project. and urban Michigan. 12 ASK THE CRA ENGINEER CRA BOARD Steve Puuri, CRA’s Engineering Specialist PRESIDENT: Steven A. Warren, Kent discusses changes to the Local Federal Exchange. VICE PRESIDENT: Joanna I. Johnson, Kalamazoo 14 LEGISLATOR PROFILE SECRETARY-TREASURER: Dorothy G. Pohl, CPA, Ionia Rep. Shane Hernandez talks road funding and DIRECTORS: Joyce Whisenant, Muskegon transportation-related legislation. John H. Daly, III, Ph.D., Genesee 16 COMMUNICATION CORNER John M. Hunt, Huron West Michigan Public Works Camp. James M. Iwanicki, PE, Marquette Dennis G. Kolar, PE, Oakland 20 CLAMMING UP Clamshell culvert keeps costs low for Bradley S. Lamberg, PE, Barry Chippewa County Road Commission. Michael A. Maloney, PE, Ontonagon Douglas J. Mills, PE, Baraga 26 INNOVATION ALLEY Larry Orcutt, Alpena Road surface treatments. Dave Pettersch, Gladwin 30 EDITOR’S NOTE Douglas Robidoux, Mason Walter J. Schell, PE, Macomb Burt R. Thompson, PE, Antrim Richard B. Timmer, Chippewa DIRECTOR: Denise Donohue, CAE, APR PUBLISHING TEAM: Christina Strong, [email protected] Dustin Earley Next Publication The Spring 2018 issue of Crossroads will preview some of the trending topics that will be presented at No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the the 2018 Highway Conference: The Road Ahead. editor and the County Road Association of Michigan. Opinions expressed by Crossroads’ editorial team wants to hear from you. columnists and contributing authors are not necessarily those of the County Call CRA at 517.482.1189 and share your ideas for Road Association of Michigan, its officers, employees or the editor. future issues! Advertisers and sponsors are solely responsible for the accuracy of information in their ads. Downloading Crossroads is easy! Downloading issues of Crossroads magazine is just © 2017, County Road Association of Michigan a click away. To download an issue of Crossroads magazine, simply head to micountyroads.org/ Newsroom/Crossroads-Magazine, and click “Download” next to the issue you want to save to your computer.

@MICountyRoads

micountyroads.org Winter 2017 3 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Over the past year, I have had the From my observations around the state and in Kent County, we opportunity to attend CRA’s sectional are making good use of these additional dollars to improve our association and council meetings across the road networks. I encourage all agencies to communicate with their state. Regardless of location, I have been legislators, boards, residents and other stakeholders regarding how inspired by the collaborative spirit that fills these additional funds are being spent and how they have been each room. allocated for future improvements. I have experienced, first-hand, how our In addition, we must clearly articulate the consequences to our members dedicate themselves, not only to networks should the Michigan Legislature fail to fully implement the success of their own agencies but also to the transportation funding package with committed General Fund the overall strength of the state’s county road dollars. and bridge system. It is within these meetings that our different It is imperative that we tell our story and that the Legislature perspectives become our strengths and viewpoints formed from understands how their home districts will be affected by not geographic diversity offer invaluable insights. fulfilling this promise. This type of engaged, ongoing collaboration is essential to In 2015, our collective voice helped to secure the transportation addressing common challenges like the increased demand on public funding package. Now, we must continue our collaborative efforts rights-of-way or regulations that impose greater restrictions on our to ensure that the promised, but not constitutionally guaranteed, agencies’ ability to successfully deliver services. funding is fully realized Our commitment to speaking with one voice makes us a . considerable force in Lansing, where legislative action impacts our present and future. Perhaps no recent legislation has affected us more than the long- awaited transportation funding package. Since its phase-in began Steven A. Warren this year, transportation revenue has increased by 23 percent. CRA President Managing Director Kent County Road Commission

February 8-9 February 13-15 March 13-15 UP Road Builders Winter Meeting CRA County Engineers Workshop 2018 CRA Highway Conference Representing the 15 Upper Peninsula Learn about new engineering topics in and Road Show county road commissions, the UP Road this CRA conference organized by LTAP. The 2018 Highway Conference Builders Meeting covers current issues, Continuing education credits available. looks to the future of transportation legislative updates and more. This year’s Held at Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire. in Michigan. The Road Show is winter meeting is at the Holiday Inn, Michigan’s biggest infrastructure trade Marquette. show. Both events run concurrently at the Lansing Center, Lansing.

For additional details on CRA events, visit micountyroads.org/events

4 Winter 2017 Crossroads

TM

Michigan Crossroads Magazine Ad, 04-17.indd 1 5/2/2017 2:32:04 PM The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

MCRC has embraced an asset management approach to its road MEMBER PROFILE system, and volunteered as a test site for the new unpaved road rating system being developed by Michigan Technological University’s Local MACKINAC Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). Logging in Mackinac COUNTY County Logging is an important year-around industry in Mackinac County. About 53 percent of the county’s land is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, making it a sportsmen’s delight and a commercial timber tract. Another 24 percent, or 153,000 acres of the county is the Hiawatha National Forest.

It’s a little-known fact that Mackinac MCRC engineer-manager Dirk While many of the timber sale proceeds County has shrunk over the years since it Heckman notes that his grandfather, go to townships in lieu of tax payments, was created by territorial governor Lewis Miros Butcher, worked as an equipment this creates a very small tax base with Cass in 1818. operator for MCRC back in the 1940s which to build roads, Heckman said. and 1950s. One of his duties was the At that time, it was called Michilimackinac maintenance of Rogers Park, where an Heckman works closely with the loggers County, and included all of the Lower interesting UP Road Builder’s monument and haulers servicing state and federal Peninsula down to Macomb County and sits. His father was city manager of St. timber harvests, and has also assisted nearly the entire Upper Peninsula! Ignace for many years, and may still CRA’s efforts to work with logging hold the title for Michigan’s longest- interests statewide. In the years since, many other counties serving city manager, Heckman said. were sectioned off, the county still stretches 120 miles from east to west. “It is very rewarding for me, in this next generation, to work in my own county The area remains an important nexus and see the impact of our work as a of tourism and natural resources for road commission that my own family Michigan, located at the north end of the and friends can benefit from. It can also Mackinac Bridge. be a detriment, as everyone knows who to call,” he joked. Operating on State Mackinac County communities Street, St. Ignace support the local roads, with 10 of its 11 townships having long-term local The Mackinac County Road millages. Commission is located in downtown St. Ignace in a 60-plus-year-old building, “The millages have become about built for the Michigan State Police. half of our MTF, and that has made our federal-aid primary roads among MCRC commissioners are dedicated to the best in Michigan,” Heckman said. the community and to being active in “At the other extreme, we have many the County Road Association (CRA) of Dirk Heckman, PE, engineer-manager primary roads that are still not paved Michigan. The road commission’s motto of the Mackinac County Road and many of them that are closed for Commission in front of the UP Road is to “offer the highest level service to the weeks each year due to wet conditions. Builders monument dedicated to public of Mackinac County, as efficiently We certainly have work to do.” former state highway commissioner, as possible.” Frank Rogers.

6 Winter 2017 Crossroads “We offer a 20 degree and colder permit that allows normal Highway Conference legal designated loads during General Session the seasonal weight restriction “This guys loves Michigan winter!” period, to help work with the March 14, 9 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. logging industry. The permits John Dee loves Michigan’s winter! Dee are good for the season and are Office Headquarters: St. Ignace will talk about the weather he’s observed enforced by our Department of over 20 years in Michigan’s snowiest Motor Carriers,” Heckman said. Staff: 21 full time; 4 seasonal county — the Keweenaw Peninsula.

No. of Commissioners: 3 (elected) Environmental The road commission is likely to take advantage of Michigan’s new Local Miles of Road: considerations Total paved: 648 Primary: 264 Local: 384 Agency Wetland Mitigation Bank Total unpaved: 356 Primary: 69 Local: 287 govern many Program, called MiWB, Heckman said. activities MDOT Contract: No Legislation sought by CRA members and passed in 2016, sets aside $2 million per “Out in the county, No. of Bridges: 22 year that allows road agencies to create environmental regulations are mitigation areas that impacts roadwork in the biggest challenge we have,” Annual Budget: $5.5 million (FY 2016-17) environmentally-sensitive areas. Heckman said. “So much of Local Revenue: $1.2 million (FY 2016-17) our land is wetlands. We have Six county road agency and municipal several primary roads that are road department members were appointed Annual Snowfall: 90 - 125 inches federal-aid eligible, but we are to the MiWB board this summer, and prevented from hard surfacing MCRC established: 1912 recently-retired MDEQ staffer Jeff them, due to environmental Silagy has been hired as the program regulations related to wetlands.” No. of Garages: 2 administrator. Heckman noted one road in Office Built: Early 1950s “This program was created for problems particular, St. Ignace Road, has exactly like those faced in Mackinac FUN FACT: Mackinac County has a unique stone a 4-mile segment closed for monument, located at a former MDOT rest stop. County,” said CRA’s legislative liaison weeks to months every year. It and deputy director Ed Noyola. “With “On a huge bolder is a bronze plate at the top of a is one of the main routes for new MTF dollars now showing up at road 15-foot high monument comprised of stones supplied locals. agencies, some of the road projects will by all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. require expensive wetland mitigation that The inscription is: “Last year it was closed more can be funded with competitive grants days than it was actually open,” from the MiWB, making them more “To Frank Rogers, Heckman said. Deputy State Highway Commissioner, affordable.” 1905 to 1913 Putting hard surfaces on State Highway Commissioner, primary roads that have 1913-1929” Island roads – outsourced wetlands on both sides will be Conceived by the U.P. Road Builders expensive in order to meet state Mackinac County includes two popular Association, this monument was regulations on wetland impacts. islands, regularly accessed by ferries: unveiled on June 4, 1930, with an Mackinac Island and Bois Blanc Island. impressive ceremony attended by several thousand “Realistically, it will cost us spectators. It was erected to honor the man who $200,000 to lift a road like St. Bois Blanc (pronounced: Bah-Blo) Island worked to develop his 25-year vision of a network of Ignace Road” that is underwater has 30 miles of roads. MCRC hires a paved roads in Michigan, unequaled in the US, and so often, Heckman said. private contractor to handle all winter and who gave the best years of his life to fulfill that vision. “Paving it would cost another summer maintenance of those roads. This monument was placed at the junction of US-2 and $100,000 to $200,000.” US-31 (now the corner of Mackinac Trail and M-123) Roads on Mackinac Island, which are not and it remains solid and impressive to this day.” Yet paving St. Ignace Road and open to motor vehicles, are maintained –SaintIgnace.org others like it are on the job list by the island, which receives Michigan Saintignace.org/history-of-st-ignace/tidbits-of-history for MCRC. Transportation Fund disbursements.

micountyroads.org Winter 2017 7 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan Beyond Roads The Little Rapids Restoration Project

It takes a community to restore a habitat.

The Little Rapids Restoration Project off the Northeast shore of Sault Ste. Marie was a community effort nearly 20 years in the making. The project took out almost a mile of road and replaced it with a bridge, using $8.5 million in grant funds originating from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

With the Chippewa County Road Commission (CCRC) at the helm, nine organizations formed a community that’s bringing “life” back to the St. Marys River.

The back story: Aerial view of the bridge over the Little Rapids in the St. Marys River. Restoring St. Marys natural habitats Unfortunately, the causeway blocked the free flow of water, which was harmful The St. Marys River is a binational shared to native fish, such as lake sturgeon and The Little Rapids Restoration Project Team: channel connecting Lake Superior and whitefish, and introduced salmon that Lake Huron, two of the largest freshwater require rapids habitat for spawning. • National Oceanic and bodies in the world. Atmospheric Administration The Little Rapids Restoration Project was (NOAA) The Little Rapids Restoration Project, first conceived in the 1990s, and had • The Great Lakes Commission located a quarter mile from the Canadian several attempts at funding. It wasn’t (GLC) border on Sugar Island, included removal until Congress passed the Great Lakes • Chippewa County Road of a causeway which was replaced by a Restoration Initiative, which targeted Commission (CCRC) • Lake Superior State University modern-day bridge. projects in “Areas of Concern,” was • Eastern Upper Peninsula funding able to be secured. The causeway in the St. Marys River Little Regional Planning & Development Agency Rapids area was first installed in the late The St. Marys River became an “Area • Michigan Department of 19th century by the US Army Corps of of Concern” under the 1987 Great Engineers as a water diversion for shipping Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Lakes Water Quality Agreement due to • US Environmental Protection purposes. industrial and municipal discharges, and Agency (EPA) sewer overflows that impaired water Over time, the diversion berm became the • St. Marys River Binational quality, sediment and wildlife habitat. Public Advisory Council causeway that would be used as a landing • Chippewa Ottawa Resource dock for the Sugar Island Ferry and served With support from the Great Lakes Authority as the main road connecting the landing Restoration Initiative, the National to the island. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

8 Winter 2017 Crossroads (NOAA) and the Great Lakes Commission used funds from their Regional Partnership Program to construct a bridge to replace a portion of a causeway and two undersized culverts in the Little Rapids area of the St. Marys River.

By opening the causeway, the flow of the St. Marys River over the historic rapids between two islands has been restored.

“The Little Rapids Restoration Project is a great example of local team work and efficiency using federal dollars to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem The new bridge over the St. Marys River. while improving local infrastructure and recreational opportunities,” said Dick Timmer, Chairman for the Chippewa invite the contractor to incorporate their all organizations including CCRC worked County Road Commission. own innovative tactics and materials cooperatively to ensure the interests of instead of the owner saying here’s what Sugar Island visitors, residents and the we’re building and here’s how we’re restored natural habitat in St. Marys River Chippewa County Road going to do it,” Laitinen said. would be properly protected.

Commission heads it up Contracting firms Payne and Dolan, Construction started in May 2016, and CCRC was captain of the design- and Zenith Tech, worked together with the bridge opened to traffic just five build construction for a new bridge to both their own engineers and consultant months later. Remaining punch-list items Sugar Island. engineers from Northwest Design were completed in spring 2017, and the Group, Integrity Structural Design and new bridge was officially dedicated this “We and our consultant AECOM others on designing and building a past August. developed the concept, documents bridge over the Little Rapids. and specifications to utilize a design- The final product is a striking five-span structure that is 620 feet long. The bridge build method to deliver the project,” On budget, ahead of said Rob Laitinen, superintendent/ has two driving lanes, a pedestrian path manager of CCRC. schedule and fishing access separate from the roadway. “The design-build method puts a lot From construction of a two-lane of design details in the hands of the temporary roadway, to ongoing The project re-established water flow contractor, saves times and allows for ecological monitoring, to inclusion of a and is expected to improve the habitat innovation. It is far more efficient to pedestrian walkway and fishing access, for native fish populations and increase opportunities for fishing and bird watching.

“There are really amazing and talented people across every agency involved in this project,” Laitinen said. “We completed this project on budget and two weeks ahead of schedule. For a project this size that’s pretty rare.”

The completion of the Little Rapids Project on the St. Marys River is one of the final steps towards the removal of the “Area of Concern” designation — leading to healthier Great Lakes, in part due to Attendees at the Little Rapids Restoration Project Dedication at leadership of the CCRC, and a community Rotary Park, in Sault Ste. Marie (August 24, 2017). focused on the goal. micountyroads.org Winter 2017 9 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

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micountyroads.org Winter 2017 11 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Ask THE CRA ENGINEER Local Federal Exchange on the path to unrestricted trades

As the audience watched, Steve Warren, CRA president and (RTF) process, ensuring the county performs the agreed- managing director of the Kent County Road Commission upon TIP activity. (KCRC), dropped three shiny quarters into the palm of Mark Christensen, superintendent/manager of the Montcalm MDOT is also willing to expand the program to include County Road Commission (MCRC), in exchange for cities, townships, villages and transit entities, once they Christensen’s crisp dollar bill. provide their own federal exchange guidelines. These may or may not be patterned on county road agency guidelines. And everybody was happy about it. CRA: What’s the timeline for implementation? That was the metaphor used during an October presentation on Local Federal Exchange, a CRA-developed program that SP: I will be working with MDOT’s Planning Division allows county road agencies to sell their federal Surface during November to revise guidelines for the Local Federal Transportation Program Rural (STPR) funds, saddled with Exchange Program to include the two new requirements. federal rules and regulations, for more flexible non-federal Once the guidelines are update, up to 15 selling exchanges dollars to another county road agency at a rate that benefits will be accepted in fiscal year 2018. both agencies. CRA: What advantage does a trade provide for The first exchange was in 2016, when KCRC purchased selling road agencies? Montcalm’s federal STPR allocation. In 2017, the KCRC- SP: On average, considering administration and oversight MCRC exchange was repeated, and four other county on federal projects, a selling county can save somewhere road agencies joined the Local Federal Aid Exchange around 25 to 30 percent on its road work, and avoid Program: Dickinson County Road Commission, significant delays and the burden of the federal aid Delta County Road Commission, Leelanau County documentation process. Road Commission and the Menominee County Road Commission. The selling road agency can advertise for local bids, getting more flexibility in how the work is done, without necessarily Breaking news! In fiscal 2018 (now underway), the having to outsource planning or design. program will triple in size, allowing 15 county road agencies to trade federal STPR allocation for less restricted dollars. Buying counties also win by getting more federal aid for their dollars, allowing them to advance federal aid projects they Crossroads sat down with CRA’s engineering specialist Steve normally would have broken up into future years. Puuri, PE, to talk about the expansion, including two new requirements for the exchange program. CRA: How can a county sell its federal STPR allocation? CRA: What’s new with the Local Federal Aid Exchange Program? SP: To secure one of the 15 selling slots, the selling and buying county road agencies must first pass resolutions of STEVE PUURI (SP): In May, CRA officially requested intent. Once I have those resolutions, one of the slots is that MDOT remove the five-county selling cap and move reserved. beyond the pilot status. In early November, we achieved an expansion to 15 “sellers!” I can assist with identifying buyers, and have all official documents to guide a road agency through the process. The two new requirements are more detailed tracking of how Exchanges for the current fiscal year must be finalized by the non-federal dollars are spent; and that the selling county May 1st. must perform the project that was listed on its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) with the nonfederal funds. This At press time, CRA was aware of seven counties that intend provides more transparency in the Rural Transportation Fund to sell their aid in the current year.

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Drivability - ECON - APAM.indd 1 6/26/2017 9:47:16 AM The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

I was surprised to learn Road Commission have that the department was visited my office in downtown funded for hundreds of Lansing. I’ve also made sure unfilled positions, even to regularly reach out to them during peak construction for guidance and advice on times; transportation issues.

And I didn’t know MDOT owned five planes. Legislative Reception CRA: How have issues Wednesday, like the catastrophic March 14, 2018 flooding in Gogebic 4:30-5:30 p.m. County and the Macomb Don’t miss the Legislative LEGISLATOR PROFILE County sinkhole impacted Reception at the 2018 your views on funding and Highway Conference in budgeting? an all-new location: The Lansing Center Riverfront REP. HERNANDEZ: Concourse overlooking REP. SHANE HERNANDEZ Natural disasters are an the Grand River! An architect-turned politician, at just 34 years old Rep. Shane obvious place to find Hernandez (R-St. Clair) was elected to represent the 83rd District, flexibility in the budget. I covering Sanilac County and parts of St. Clair County, and is chair of believe the House response CRA: Are your road the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. to the Macomb sinkhole commissions your go-to was appropriate. Money resource for transportation A strong believer in community-level activism, Rep. Hernandez was set aside for exactly related information? regularly holds public meetings in his district to hear the concerns of this kind of event, so that’s those he represents. we believe it should be REP. HERNANDEZ: They used for. are. Kirk Weston [managing Rep. Hernandez recently sat down with CRA’s deputy director Ed director, St. Clair] and Robb Noyola to talk about his experience serving in the Legislature since CRA: Have you had an Falls [county highway being elected in 2016, and who his go-to transportation resources are. opportunity to introduce engineer-manager, Sanilac] any transportation-related have been valuable resources. legislation? CRA: Rep. Hernandez, were Where it all started you active in transportation They can provide a ground REP. HERNANDEZ: I level view of some of the issues prior to being elected to introduced House Bill 4954 Representative Shane the House of Representatives? challenges facing road Hernandez became interested in this September, covering agencies that might be nonmotorized vehicles. in politics from an early age, REP. HERNANDEZ: My overlooked if you aren’t The bill would provide growing up with a politically background is in construction. working through them daily. local road agencies with active family. I have some minor experience more flexibility in how related to transportation I’ve also been keen to hear much of their allocated Wanting to do more in in relation to that, building the innovative ways they’re funding they are required politics than the outreach driveways to MDOT specs and using funding and some of the to spend on nonmotorized platforms like social media similar projects, but my first real program ideas they have for transportation paths. could offer, Hernandez venture into transportation- pushing technology forward Counties should be able became a well-known activist related politics was with and creating efficiencies. to spend their funds in the and community leader Proposal 1. One suggestion I liked was before running for State way that makes the most providing incentives for Representative. CRA: Were there any sense for their residents. using innovative materials funding or program surprises This bill helps achieve that. and processes. I was also Hernandez is a lifelong last year as chair of the very pleased to learn how CRA: Despite your heavy resident of the 83rd district, Appropriation Subcommittee the St. Clair County Road schedule, have you had an where he lives with his wife, on Transportation? Commission was able to cut Renee, and his three- and opportunity to visit your costs by purchasing old Army five-year-old daughters. REP. HERNANDEZ: I came road commissions? trucks and making snowplows in with a mindset of embracing out of them. I thought that REP. HERNANDEZ: Every day the House is in efficiencies and focusing on was a very creative way to Engineers and session, he drives four hours directing funding to pavement. solve a problem, and exactly commissioners from both so he can spend more time I would like to see road funding the reason I feel locals should the St. Clair County with his family. go to exactly that: The roads. have more flexibility in their Road Commission and road budgets. the Sanilac County

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Key transitions at…

…Road Commissions and Louis Csokasy is the interim engineer- Michael P. Schulz, engineer-manager, has manager at the Berrien County retired from the Ogemaw County Road Departments Road Commission. The five road Commission after 24 years. Shawn Beckman is now project manager commissioners have been replaced by the at the Emmet County Road Commission. county commissioners. In Memorium Lisa Kleeman has joined the Emmet ASMCRA’s board has named Joyce On September 13, 2017, Daniel F. County Road Commission as finance Whisenant, Muskegon, to serve the Provost, former engineer-manager for director. remainder of the one-year term vacated the Gladwin County Road Commission, by Larry Brown. Pete John Paramski has been appointed passed away. He was with Gladwin for commissioner at the Luce County Road 31 years. Commission. Mile Marker Kenneth Kline has been appointed Dawn Martin, accounting clerk, has retired from the Emmet County Road Do you have a staff member you commissioner at the Menominee County want recognized in Crossroads? Commission after five years. Road Commission. Call Alexandra Contreras Pat Reinke is the new managing Scott F. Assenmacher, county highway at 517.482.1189, or email director at the Ogemaw County Road engineer, has retired from the Monroe [email protected]. Commission. County Road Commission after 19 years. micountyroads.org Winter 2017 15 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

WEST MICHIGAN: PUBLIC WORKS CAMP

By Maura Lamoureaux, Communications Manager, Kent County Road Commission

with the Public Works Camp began investigating avenues that could increase exposure to public works professions.

Currently, the group is designing a Public Works Academy curriculum with GRCC. The Academy would train students with the skills needed for public works professions and help develop a strong workforce for the future.

Steve Warren, County Road Association of Michigan president and KCRC’s managing director, concurred, adding that the benefits of these types of opportunities are a win-win for agencies and students, alike. Students pose during the Public Works Camp (July 17-20). “This type of educational outreach Seeking to provide young teens construction and maintenance efforts provides a unique opportunity with a hands-on opportunity to of road agencies. to engage students and show learn more about the professions them the cohesive nature that dedicated to improving everyday lives George Smith, superintendent of links our separate agencies –road within their own communities, the employee safety for Kent County commissions, public services, Kent, Van Buren and Muskegon Road Commission (KCRC), joined drain commissions – and how our County Road Commissions Grand Rapids Public Services (GRPS) efforts, collectively, help to keep our teamed with the Michigan employees for a morning tour of community’s infrastructure safe and Department of Transportation and the GRPS facility, where students running smoothly,” said Warren. West Michigan-area municipalities ventured through the garage and to facilitate a four-day Public Works climbed aboard the equipment Camp July 17-20, 2017. used to improve and maintain roads and bridges. Highway Conference Sponsored by Grand Rapids Breakout Session on Interns! Community College (GRCC), the “It’s one thing to explain to kids March 14, 1:30 P.M. and 3:30 P.M. what we do, but when the students camp invited seventh through ninth Are interns valuable assets? Have actually have the opportunity to grade students to visit local agencies you considered starting an internship sit in our equipment and tour our and explore a myriad of jobs available program at your county road agency? garages, the learning experience is within the realm of public works. Learn the ins and outs of starting an heightened,” said Smith. internship program! Every day for four days, students embarked on a new journey, whether To extend outreach to high school it was participating in a simulated graduates, a special committee water main break or exploring the comprised of agencies affiliated

16 Winter 2017 Crossroads

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micountyroads.org Winter 2017 19 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Construction of the “clamshell” culvert on 12 Mile Road over the Charlotte River in Chippewa County. CLAMMING UP “Typically, there would be six-foot lay length, full-box sections going in the keeps costs low for Chippewa excavation and then fastened together,” said Rob Laitinen, managing director of CCRC.“Wingwall sections would also County Road Commission be added. There is no way you would be able to truck full-box pieces this size or be able to place them with a reasonable Thinking outside the box (culvert) requiring assembly, the clamshell culvert sized crane,” Laitinen said. Each piece has helped Chippewa County Road is divided into a top and bottom half, a span across the stream of 30 feet and a Commission’s (CCRC) drainage project each having three sides. A total of eleven lay length of 6 feet. The become a shining example of making the pieces were assembled to make the box. total assembled width seemingly improbable possible. The clamshell culvert is a variant of across the roadway is In 2017, CCRC installed a 30 feet span the Upper Peninsula Concrete Pipe 30 feet as well, Laitinen by 12 feet rise “clamshell”-style pre-cast Company’s three-sided culvert with a added. box culvert to replace an undersized pre-stressed top slab, trademarked as “The wing walls are culvert crossing that was failing on 12 Low Span®. Low Span® was developed to installed outside of Mile Road over the Charlotte River. The allow a larger span flat top culvert under that. Each three-sided larger structure was needed to meet the the road yet require minimal re-grading, piece has a weight of Michigan Department of Environmental tree removal and other site work that a 66,000 pounds and Quality (MDEQ) bankfull width traditional round culvert would require. they measure 30 feet by requirements. The idea was generated six feet by six. The 30- during a brainstorming session between Due to its design, the large span clamshell foot span was a MDEQ CCRC and the Upper Peninsula Concrete culvert can be shipped by multiple requirement,” Laitinen Pipe Company. Unlike a traditional box trucks and assembled with a crane at the said. culvert which would come as five pieces construction site. It is precast concrete and hence isn’t made on-site.

20 Winter 2017 Crossroads The site was right for a culvert rather than a bridge. There are very soft soils in the To our knowledge, this is the first area and on those types of soils to use clamshell culvert using pre-stress a bridge foundation would involve deep steel foundation piling and lightweight reinforcement providing longer geofoam backfill, according to Laitinen. span widths. To further complicate matters there is an artesian aquifer in this area and – John Kloet, president and general manager, any deep piling would penetrate into Upper Peninsula Concrete Pipe Company that and possibly cause leakage of groundwater alongside the piling. Having a full structural bottom slab embedded well below the streambed is the feature The culvert was manufactured in reinforcement providing longer span that eliminates both of these very costly Escanaba, and is a relatively new widths,” Kloet said. elements, he added. invention. The project cost $350,000, and the CCRC’s culvert project has the approval “As far as I know, we are one of three culvert’s life expectancy is more than 100 of the public as well. producers of a “clamshell” box in North years. Replacing the previous culvert with America. The others are in Ontario a bridge would have cost CCRC around “The public likes the aesthetics of and Southern California,” said John $650,000 to $750,000. the structure and how quickly it went Kloet, president and general manager together. The road closure was 30 days. “We liked the savings, we liked that we of the Upper Peninsula Concrete Pipe With a bridge it could have easily been 60 could do the project with our own people Company. “However, those other locales or more,” Laitinen said. are both “conventional” reinforcement and these are precast standard elements “clamshells”, which would mean shorter that can be easily reproduced. It was span widths than what Michigan needs.” manufactured in a controlled environment instead of manufactured in the field “To our knowledge, this is the first where weather can become a problem,” clamshell culvert using pre-stress Laitinen said.

12 Mile Road over the Charlotte River “after” photo.

12 Mile Road over the Charlotte River “before” photo.

micountyroads.org Winter 2017 21 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

COLLABORATIVE SPOTLIGHT

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RCRC sat down with How do you resurface anmanagement aging from several regional waste haulers road, protect the environment,with a plan that included using RCRC scales to weigh garbage trucks at different In plus save time and money?intervals throughout the day. Students pose at the public works summer camp (July 17-20). With a garage full of enthusiastic staff, free coffee and Call Gallagher.doughnuts for drivers, the waste trucks rolled in, had 2013, Northern Michigan had a bit of a waste problem. That’s their loads weighed and continued their routes. because seasonal weight restrictions were limiting how much waste could be hauled during frost break up, asWe’ll county show road you howAt the to end dramatically of the day, data reducein hand, RCRC your concluded that if the agencies worked to protect crumbling roads. pavement resurfacingwaste haulers program’s installed largerbudget, tires to and spread do out the weight across the tire tread, there would be minimal impact to the road by your part to help protect the environment. Thanks to a new regional program, some Northern Michigan waste haulers. This change allowed trucks to haul 90 percent of county road agencies have found they can haveHot-in-Place it both ways, Recyclingnormal loads is notduring only frost aseason. very green keeping waste hauling running on schedule and protecting the roads. process that reducesThe industry the carbongot on board footprint and worked by with 28% RCRC to make versus mill and overlay,necessary changesit also underreduces a new congestionsafe driving certification program and user-delays inwith early far 2014 less that truckingspecified necessary required. equipment changes for A new solution emerges waste hauling during seasonal weight restrictions, and other good road practices that truck drivers should know, like driving in The Roscommon County Road Commission (RCRC) set out in the center of the road instead of along the shoulder. 2013 with what sounded like a simple goal: Find a way to protect roads while still delivering citizens the servicesGallagher they need. EasierAsphalt CorporationAfter certification and new tire installation, RCRC provides waste said than done, as the saying goes. 18100 S. Indiana Avenuehaulers with as many800.536.7160 seasonal permits as the organization needs for $200. Along with the permits, RCRC encourages local “We saw the service interruptions and road damageThornton, happening IL 60476 hotinplacerecycling.com

22 Winter 2017 Crossroads 17321_HIP Half Page Ad_CRA Directory_FINAL.indd 1 4/25/17 9:01 AM micountyroads.org Winter 2017 23 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

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24 Winter 2017 Crossroads micountyroads.org Winter 2017 25 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

CREATIVE IDEAS TO Improve Road Surfaces

Again this fall, CRA asked county Dan Wagner, PE, managing director “Although more expensive, we thought road agencies across Michigan to tell of the Leelanau County Road the slag and its improved gradation would Crossroads about new approaches and Commission (LCRC), said he and LCRC’s achieve improved binder adhesion with new technologies to improve the surfaces engineer Jim Johnson, PE, took a road the cationic emulsion, result in less stone of local roads. trip earlier this year to look at roads and loss, less dust and be more durable,” he talk to the engineer-managers at the said. “Then we added a second roller to With one or more professional engineers Gratiot County Road Commission our operation to ensure the stones were on staff or under contract at each of and the Montcalm County Road quickly embedded, also reducing stone Michigan’s 83 county road commissions Commission. They also visited the loss.” and departments, there is no shortage of product development manager for new ideas being applied to the 90,000 Michigan Paving and Materials Company. LCRC applied a fog seal over all roads miles of roads for which counties are after sealcoating them, also a newer responsible. Then LCRC decided to make several technique for them. changes in the sealcoating process – Following are some of the new ideas most of them more costly but better Initially reluctant to make this many from the 2017 construction season. performing. changes to its sealcoating program at once, LCRC crunched the numbers, “Historically, we had used an anionic gained approval of its board of road Leelanau CRC changes high-float chip seal emulsion,” Wagner commissioners, and tested the approach. up the sealcoat; paves said. “Although it cost more, this year we record number of miles decided to go to a cationic rapid-setting, “When we saw how the changes were polymer-modified emulsion, which when working out, it satisfied any lingering concerns we had,” Wagner said. “We Sealcoating is a popular surface combined with our aggregate change set a new record by sealcoating 50 miles improvement to local roads, particularly would improve stone retention.” of both primary and secondary roads this in the more rural parts of Michigan. The cationic sealcoat was also expected to year, outpacing our best previous year by Its low cost, high impact make it an cure more quickly, allowing its work crew nearly 20 percent – with less staff.” affordable option for road commission- to make faster progress and reduce the township funding. likelihood of vehicles tracking through it – “Best of all, we did not have a single complaint to the office this year about One Michigan road commission took a generating fewer complaints to the office dust or material on vehicles!” Wagner new look at its sealcoating program this about fresh asphalt stuck to people’s cars. said. “While the changes we made are summer. “Then we substituted not innovative in the industry, they were a slag stone for the new practices for us locally.” “chip” instead of a locally produced Leelanau has had a county-wide limestone material millage for the last 30 years, which now that we had comprises about 20 percent of its budget. historically used, “The last election it was approved by 84 which had wide- percent of the voters, one of the highest ranging gradation rates ever,” Wagner said. “We view this and was rather brittle as our ‘report card’ that the citizens of and dirty,” Wagner Leelanau County believe we are being said. good stewards of our transportation Sealcoating in infrastructure.” Leelanau County.

26 Winter 2017 Crossroads G Avenue in Kalamazoo County G Avenue in Kalamazoo County before undersealing. after undersealing was completed.

Kalamazoo uses flexible Because digging up the entire road In layman’s terms, Ausbury said the and starting over is so expensive, road bottom layer of asphalt (over the underseal, keeps stiff agencies across the state are looking for underseal) is more flexible, again to upper lip good mid-term solutions for these roads. move with the imperfect concrete base. The top layer is a new SuperPave® mix These striking before and after pictures by Enter: The underseal and Tom Wood. that contains a more angular type of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo aggregate that locks together better Tom Wood is something of a star in County (RCKC) show a four-layer, mixed and provides the stiff upper surface that the North when it comes to pavement media project that has turned a bumpy, resists reflective cracking technology. A 31-year veteran of the unsightly road into a smooth-looking Minnesota Department of Transportation dream ride for area residents. The 2.3-mile project cost was $758,000 and now a private consultant, Wood has and took less than three weeks, Worden “This section of G Avenue was at the spoken at a few Michigan engineering said. midpoint for road quality, but really workshops. deteriorated over this past winter,” RCKC staff did the chip seal and Rieth Recalling his presentations on road said Mark Worden, RCKC project Riley Construction Company completed preservation, RCKC invited him to superintendent. the job. The road preservation treatment Kalamazoo for advice on the county’s is expected to last 15 years with proper “Decades ago we used to make roads approach to chip seal and these mixed- preventive maintenance. with a concrete base that was paved over material roads. with asphalt. And what we’ve learned Underseal is not common in Michigan. RCKC then decided on the underseal over time is that when those materials RCKC had tried the underseal on a short approach for 2.3 miles of G Avenue to are placed next to one another they don’t segment of Portage Road a few years ago take advantage of remaining strength in play well together,” Worden said. soon after Wood’s visit. “We noticed the concrete, albeit cracked and therefore that it has performed well, so we said let’s G Avenue is a primary road that handles moving around. try it on G Avenue,” Worden said. about 6,000 cars a day, and is a popular “The underseal project entailed milling commuter route. off two inches of old asphalt, then chip Road Commission of This section of G Avenue was called sealing and paving four inches on top Kalamazoo County “pothole heaven,” said Rebekkah with asphalt,” Ausbury said. Ausbury, project engineer with the performs preventive Underseal protects the pavement from RCKC. further water leaking into it and freezing, maintenance for the City “People would call us all the time and lends some binding properties to the of Kalamazoo the crews were going out every week concrete, and reduces cracking of the Virtually every county road agency to patch that section of road because as upper asphalt layers due to its flexibility. in Michigan is working cooperatively soon as you put a patch on, it was coming “The four inches of asphalt on top might with another governmental agency up,” Worden added. “You can’t maintain be the secret ingredient to improved by collaborating on projects, sharing a patch that was patched.” interaction between the concrete and employees, equipment or storage space. asphalt,” Ausbury said. micountyroads.org Winter 2017 27 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Chip seal/fog sealed road work in the City of Kalamazoo.

Yet it’s not often that a county road “Around Kalamazoo County you cannot “Burdick Street had a pavement surface agency does work for a midsize city help but see the change in our road evaluation and rating of five, so it was – as happened this summer when the surface – it looks like asphalt rather than ideal for preventive maintenance,” RCKC did a 1.3-mile chip seal/fog seal chip seal, because we’re using a smaller Worden said. The $67,000 project across project on Burdick Street in the City of aggregate. This is not your father’s chip a four-lane road was completed over Kalamazoo. seal,” Worden said. three days in July, and is expected to increase the road’s life expectancy by six “This project was important to our road Historically, cities are not interested in to eight years. commission and the city, to show the chip seal – the process of pavement benefit of preventive maintenance,” being sprayed with asphalt emulsion A comparable hot mix asphalt paving job said Joanna I. Johnson, RCKC then immediately covered with would have cost the City of Kalamazoo managing director, CRA vice aggregate and rolled, followed by over four times as much, Worden said. president and chair of the Michigan a fog seal treatment – because it is Transportation Asset Management typically bumpier and less friendly to The City of Kalamazoo was so pleased Council (TAMC). bicycles, skateboards and other activities with the collaboration that RCKC is common in urban areas. However, chip estimating more projects for the City of “From the history we can recall, this seals preserve a pavement surface for up Kalamazoo and other cities in 2018. may have been the first chip seal to a 10-year period. Chip seal remains “The success of this chip seal project puts type of project within the city limits,” the most cost-effective method to another tool in the toolbox to maintain Johnson said. preserve vital infrastructure. roads in the City of Kalamazoo,” Johnson “The City of Kalamazoo approached Continuous improvements make urban said. the Road Commission of Kalamazoo chip sealing more appealing through “What is important is the collaboration County in early 2017, and we got into RCKC’s quality control improvements, between the RCKC and the City of some serious discussions this past such as using vacuum sweeper trucks Kalamazoo, and the city’s willingness to spring,” RCKC project superintendent to capture loose stone as quickly as work together and look at alternatives to Mark Worden said. “They two hours after a project. That means preserve its infrastructure. It speaks to recognized the change in our chip seal less cleaning out of storm sewers after the positive relationship between the two process and materials.” a project, and less asphalt and stone agencies,” Johnson concluded. churning up onto the bottoms of passing vehicles.

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micountyroads.org Winter 2017 29 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

EDITOR’S NOTE

Collaboration, innovation and efficiency CRA knows the expertise, problem-solving and time management are the three pillars that drive the capabilities our county road agencies can bring to the table. We messaging of the County Road must ensure that key stakeholders know as well. Association (CRA) of Michigan. It may In the current climate of government scrutinizing road spending be trite, but we’re stronger together and road agencies, every road agency must be very transparent than we are apart. And looking toward and have strong communication with local government about the the future, this will remain true. local transportation infrastructure system. The 2018 Highway Conference All road agencies should be wrestling with the futuristic questions theme is “The Road Ahead.” On — and it helps to bounce ideas off your peers in the road business. the road to the future, there will be challenges as counties begin to ask the At the road agency and beyond, our message is stronger when we question: “Why are county road agencies important?” and work together. That will continue to be today and in the future. “Will we remain important in 20 years?” When confronted with such questions your agency must answer, and it is easier to do so with the help of your peers. CRA’s PR Committee is working on messaging that all of Michigan’s county road agencies can use when asked these Christina Strong questions. Editor and Communication Manager

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