Assuring the forthcoming Ford Highway boulevard in Canton Township might be something however drab, a menu of eye-catching facilities for the 1.6-mile lane divider was unveiled throughout a Tuesday research session.
The No. 1 goal of the boulevard mission, in response to Michigan Division of Transportation Mission Supervisor Adam Penzenstadler, is to considerably cut back the variety of crashes on the street. The boulevard will stretch from simply east of Interstate 275 to Sheldon Highway.
The largest conversation-igniter among the many potential panorama enhancements had been colourful, multi-sized acrylic panels that will add a dose of innovation to the revamped Ford Highway hall, defined OHM consultant Ben Weaver, who teamed with members of a boulevard subcommittee to develop the preliminary design idea.
“We’re seeking to make the Ford Highway hall extra of a vacation spot than a spot individuals merely cross by way of,” defined Weaver. “The panels present a pleasant pop of coloration and may be tailor-made to suit every particular person block. They could possibly be used to advertise the township’s way-finding components.”
When considerations had been raised that the panels might create blind-spot points for drivers, Weaver stated they’d be positioned in a approach that they’d not be a security hazard.
A number of types of crops that could possibly be put in on the sections of the boulevard had been mentioned as had been plans to make use of completely different pigments of concrete to provide the strong elements of the boulevard a trendy look.
All crops utilized on the boulevard can be native and straightforward to take care of, Weaver emphasised.
Canton DDA Coordinator Amy Hamilton stated the Michigan Division of Transportation revealed the mission will not be full till 2024 or 2025, giving designers loads of time to tweak Tuesday’s preliminary revelations.
The DDA is liable for the landscaping side of the boulevard, Hamilton stated.
“The acrylic panels are one thing that may’t be present in different cities and townships round right here so it might be a particular function that individuals would determine with Canton,” Hamilton stated.
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Board of Trustees member Sommer Foster stated the panorama subcommittee has been engaged on the design since Could 2021.
“Our priorities had been for low-maintenance landscaping and to provide the Ford Highway hall extra of a contemporary look; we wish individuals to know they’re in Canton as quickly as they enter the hall,” Foster stated. “At first I used to be involved with the panels, however I really feel they may actually work out nicely and enhance the texture of the hall.”
The planting of bushes within the space affected by the mission have to be restricted to boulevards that might be put in alongside Haggerty Highway because of MDOT rules, Weaver stated.
Contact reporter Ed Wright at eawright@hometownlife.com or 517-375-1113.
