ESCANABA — The Delta County Road Commission (DCRC) has finalized its 2022 roadwork plans for local townships. DCRC is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the county road and bridge system in Delta County. With funds coming in from the local, state, and federal levels, the total cost for all projects this year is just over $4.5 million.

Additionally, 2022 is a “gravel year” for the commission. This increase in gravel hauling, which operates on a three year cycle, will account for half of the projects being undertaken in local townships, with a three inch layer of gravel being laid in specified areas.

DCRC’s largest projects will be taking place in Bark River Township this year, with federal and state aid contributing the costs of the two projects within the area. The commission is planning to pave the 12 mile stretch of road that runs from US-2 near D Road all the way to County Road 535 near OB Fuller County Park on M-35. Overlaying this stretch will cost nearly $1.6 million.

In addition to this overlay project in Bark River Township., bridge rehabilitation will be taking place on the Ford River bridge, located on I Rd. between Rainbow Packing Inc. and Hyde. The bridge will be closed starting Monday, June 6 and will reopen at the end of August. Normal traffic traveling from M-69 in Schaffer will be rerouted on 16.25 Rd., J Rd., 14.5 Rd.., and J.5 Rd. before reaching US-2 and 41. Oversize and overweight loads that require a permit will be guided through a lengthy detour, with more details located on the Delta County Road Commission’s Facebook page. The bridge rehabilitation project, which includes repainting and concrete work, will cost close to $400,000.

Primary work of the DCRC, which is solely paid for by the commission, will be taking place in Maple Ridge, Brampton, Nahma, and Garden townships this year. 37th Rd. in Maple Ridge Township will receive 3.4 miles of single-layer chip seal, and N .5 Rd. in Brampton Township will undergo 1.67 miles of single-layer chip seal as well.

Nahma Township houses two of DCRC’s primary projects this year, the first of which is a single-layer of chip seal on DD Rd. The second, and the DCRC’s second-largest expenditure this year, is a single-layer chip seal of all of Highway 13. Those traveling through Garden Township can expect to see 17th Road being rebuilt this year as well. The entirety of DCRC’s primary work has a grand total of nearly $1.2 million.

DCRC local routine maintenance work, in which townships help offset costs, is as follows:

21st Road in Escanaba Township will receive gravel work this year, while H Road is set to be rebuilt. The total cost for these two projects reaches $105,965.

Brampton Township has numerous projects scheduled for 2022, including N.5 Road and 25th Road receiving a single-layer chip seal. Additionally, 27.5 Rd. in Brampton Township will be rebuilt, the total cost of these three projects being $70,000.

In addition to it’s major projects, Bark River Township will receive a single chip-seal coat on F Road, gravel work on D Road, and the entirety of 10th Road will be paved. E Lane in Bark River Township will also be rebuilt, the total cost of these four projects being $180,124.

Those traveling through Maple Ridge Township can expect to see roadwork scattered throughout the area, predominantly that of gravel work. Glenwood R.55 Road, Finn Hall H Road, J.5 Lane, and 39.75 Road will all be receiving a three inch layer of gravel. Two roads, N. and S. River Roads, will be rebuilt in the area as well. The grand total for projects in Maple Ridge Township reach $90,817.

Various roads throughout Ford River Township will receive gravel work this summer, project costs totaling $56,166.

Wells Township has three projects slated for this year. Several roads in the area will receive a single chip-seal coat, and paving will be done at the Viau and Hilltop Subdivisions. These three projects combine for a grand total of $287,361.

Cornell Township will receive a three inch layer of gravel on two of their roads, Cedardale 28th Road and Truax 24th Road, with a total price of $41,360.

Two types of projects will be taking place in Masonville Township this year. First, single chip-seal coats will be administered to various roads throughout the township, including N. Main Street. Gravel work will be done on many roads in the area as well, with all projects within the Twp. totaling $73,762.

Ensign, Nahma, and Garden Townships each have a single project scheduled for the year. Both Ensign and Nahma Townships will receive gravel work, with AA Ln. and KK Road to be worked on, respectively. AA Lane will cost $9,916 to complete, while KK Road will cost $54,000. Garden Township will receive a single chip-seal coat on KK.6 Lane, totaling $42,423.

Various roads throughout Bay de Noc Township will undergo gravel work, with Y.5 Road being cleared of unwanted surface material at the same time. Total cost for roadwork in Bay de Noc Township reaches $95,000.

Fairbanks Township will host several roadwork projects this summer. Gravel and brushing work will be done on 8th Road, along with a single chip-seal coat on LL. 25 Road. Roadwork costs in this area total $42,165.