WARREN – Good news finally for anyone forced to drive on Mound Road. The US Department of Transportation has issued a $97.8 million grant to help fund a $184.6 million reconstruction of Mound Road.
The Mound Road Corridor is a major artery for national automotive, defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing installations. The stretch of Mound Road eligible for the grant is a critical nine-mile, eight-lane connection between I-696 and M-59, supporting more than 81,000 nearby manufacturing jobs.
Industrial facilities and employers along the route include the General Motors Technical Center, the Ford Axle Plant, the Chrysler Assembly Plant, General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems and the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) and Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The goals of Innovate Mound include building a better roadway that features smart technology to enhance the efficient and safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The goals will be realized by:
• The complete reconstruction of Mound Road from I-696 to M-59
• Widening of Mound Road in Sterling Heights from three to four lanes
• Installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Real-time traffic speed monitoring
• Traffic flow improvements, including signals and signs
• Installation of two pedestrian walkways and improved landscaping
• Unified lighting and iconic signage
Funding for the project cost not being covered by the INFRA grant will come from Macomb County, the City of Sterling Heights and the City of Warren in the amounts of $43.3 million, $29.06 million and $14.3 million, respectively. Congress now has 60 days to review the list of projects recommended for funding nationwide, including Mound Road.
Assuming Congress approves the project, the reconstruction of Mound Road will commence in approximately 20 months. . More information about Innovate Mound can be viewed at www.innovatemound.org.
