At a past Harsens Island St. Clair Flats Association board meeting David Bryson brought a 1932 document indicating that the connection between M-154 and the ferry docks was indeed a MDOT roadway.   Until around the end of July our contact with MDOT had confirmed that this indeed was true.   We have been in contact with MDOT since before the first of the year to try and get someone to take responsibility to fix the connectors.  The pot holes are a constant problem!

At then end of July, Mr. Scott Singer (development Engineer for the State) invited a representative from HISCFA, Mr. David Bryson, and 4 MDOT representatives of various departments from finance and development and the Port Huron MDOT manager.   At the meeting, to everyone’s surprise, Mr. Bryson indicated that he wanted to now take ownership of both connectors from MDOT, if indeed, the State owned the road segments.   

 Even though the State is working from the 1932 documentation of ownership, Mr. Bryson brought a printout from www.MichiganHighways.org  reporting on “Unsigned State Trunk Lines and Connectors which references old M-154.  He seems to think that there is some confusion over M-154 along North Channel.  The confusion seems to be over .47 mile segment most likely referring that part of M-154 connecting to the old 2nd ferry docking area west of the current approach. 

David indicated that in the case of a driver running into the channel from his dock area, he was rendered a “no cause judgment because Ferry Docks are public Property (a Mackinac Island case was referenced).   Up until this meeting David has insisted that the State owned the connectors and in which case he could not repair these sections.   The State had felt that David should repair these connectors  but MDOT does not usually have private property segments between two Michigan highways (M-29 and M 154).  This issue lead to an additional exchange regarding the traffic light and the intersection’s high accident rates.

At the conclusion of the meeting, MDOT indicated that they will attempt to establish ownership from the available data.   Mr. Young from the State prefers that MDOT owns both connectors.  He stated that the office was engaged in addressing projects from the stimulus funding, and it may take some time to address the connectors and their needed repairs. 

Since the meeting I have received the following e-mail from the State (MDOT)

“We have completed most of the stimulus funding and can work on a design at this time. And also the Country Road Commission completed a survey for us of the connectors.  There is also a possibility that maintenance funds can be used to fix this location.   The Maintenance Engineer thinks that there are enough funds left in his budget to do this work.  If it is determined that MDOT owns this road, we will move forward quickly to fix the road.”