TAYLOR, Mich. – The mayor of Taylor is urging dirt bike and ATV riders to stay off the gravel and dirt piles along the Restore 94 construction zone, warning that trespassing could lead to delays on the massive freeway project.
In a recent city council meeting, Mayor Tim Woolley said he received reports from the Michigan Department of Transportation of people riding on construction mounds and causing vandalism at locations where crews are mixing cement for the project.
Woolley said the riding isn’t just a safety issue, it also risks contaminating materials needed to complete the work.
“Riding up and down the hills of the gravel and the sand and everything, that contaminates that sand and stone,” Woolley said. “ So I’m going to ask kindly that people refrain from doing that. That’s trespassing. This can make this projects go on a lot longer than anybody wants.”
The mayor also said cameras have been set up at the sites and warned that anyone caught trespassing will be prosecuted “to the highest limit of the law.”
Local 4 reached out to MDOT for comment on this story. They sent a statement:
“The Restore 94 Project has experienced vandalism and trespassing on some construction sites and has involved the Taylor and Michigan State police. The areas are now being fenced and secured. A reminder to the public that it is dangerous to enter a construction area.
Diane Cross, MDOT Communications, Metro Region
Local 4 contacted Taylor police regarding enforcement at the locations. The department has not yet responded to a request for comment.