DETROIT – Neighbors in Detroit’s Barton-McFarland neighborhood are frustrated after the city restarted work on a lead service line replacement project, temporarily blocking access to their driveways without notice.
The work is part of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Project WS-725, a project to replace and rehabilitate aged water mains and lead service lines.
Oria McLain Jr., who lives on Griggs Street, said contractors began work in the area back in the fall, digging a trench in the street and refilling it ahead of the winter months.
McLain Jr. said crews restarted work last Monday, reopening the trench and blocking residents from using their driveways, forcing some to drive over the sidewalk.
“I had to go down the sidewalk to go to the end of the street, Kramer, to get out,” McLain said. “It rained three or four days, so all of this was mud. Fiasco. People were afraid because we didn’t know if the sidewalks would hold up our vehicles or not.”
McLain said after he called the city to complain, crews later came out to put barriers and tape around the trench and put down metal plates to allow vehicles into their driveways, but he said they were initially installed improperly and had to be fixed.
“When they first dropped them off, they dropped them off the wrong way, and they were too narrow, and a couple of people actually slid off of them,” McLain said.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Deputy Director Sam Smalley apologized to residents and said the city is reworking its approach before continuing.
“The plan was not fully baked as it relates to this project,” Smalley said. “There were some impacts being proposed on the customers that are not acceptable, and it’s not the way that we conduct business. So I’ve talked to our engineers, our contractor, I told them we need a better plan, discuss it tonight (April 21), give us some options tomorrow (April 22).”
Smalley said a contractor had been scheduled to begin restoring asphalt and concrete on Wednesday, but the city is now requiring a revised plan focused on minimizing disruptions.
That includes maintaining access to driveways and, if residents must park elsewhere, considering security and lighting.
“That we’re providing access to their driveways,” Smalley said. “If they can’t access their driveways, where can they park? Is it going to be secure? Are we going to have 24-hour security and lighting there? I told our team they’d better come up with some options.”
McLain said residents want the project completed, but done correctly.
“We want it done, we want it fixed, and we’re tired of the excuses,” McLain said.