$11 million county drain project begins in Sumpter Township
Three Sumpter Township road crossings will be replaced as part of the $11 million infrastructural upgrade to the North Branch Big Swan Creek Intercounty Drain. The drain spans Monroe, Wayne and Washtenaw counties and is being managed by the Intercounty Drainage Board. The project is an effort to clear logjams, excavate open channels and replace failing infrastructure to reduce flooding along the 18.1 mile stretch of drain.
In Sumpter Township the Willis Road crossing, located approximately 1,500 feet west of Sumpter Road, was scheduled to be replaced beginning June 1, according to a notice from project managers.
Clean-up and channel maintenance are under way and upcoming work on the Willis Road crossings in Sumpter Township will require rolling detours and road closures, according to officials overseeing the project. The project is scheduled to continue until late fall
The total project cost is divided between Wayne County which is paying 80.5 percent of the cost; Washtenaw County paying 15.75 percent, and Monroe County paying about 3.75 percent of the fees. Property owners within the drainage district are being assessed to fund the infrastructure repairs. Assessments will be collected via winter tax bills, though many homeowners had the option to pay in full to avoid long-term bond interest, according to the drain project management.
For details on property assessments, project maps, and road closures, check the Sumpter Township North Branch Big Swan Page or the official updates from the Wayne County Treasurer.
