ST. CLAIR COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION 2013 Road & Bridge Report

The St. Clair County Road Commission is responsible for 495 miles of primary

roads and 1,057 miles of local roads. The Road Commission also maintains 507

lane miles under a contract with MDOT.

The main source of funding for the St. Clair County Road Commission comes

from the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF). The MTF was designed as a user

fee for the state’s transportation system; 88% of the revenue funding the MTF

comes from the state’s Gasoline Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees. The last

increase to the Gasoline Tax was in 1997, when it was raised to a flat 19¢ per

gallon. Since then, road maintenance and repair costs have risen dramatically.

The cost for chip seal (a method of road preservation) has gone from $3,800 per

mile in 1997 to $26,800 in 2012. The cost to overlay a road with 1.5 inches of

new asphalt has risen from $52,500 per mile in 1997 to $101,200 per mile in

2012. Crushing and reshaping a road for new pavement cost $166,000 per mile in

1997; in 2012 it was $533,300. And to totally remove and replace a roadway and

all drainage structures went from a cost of $431,000 per mile in 1997 to

$1,144,092 in 2012. Yet funding for roads has actually declined. More fuel

efficient cars, and drivers seeking to drive fewer miles to save gas, have led to a

decrease in revenues for the MTF.

In an effort to increase cost efficiencies, the St. Clair County Road Commission

has adopted new methods of Asset Management. By the use of PASER Ratings,

the Road Commission has evaluated every road under its jurisdiction, and

assigned a rating. This allows the Road Commission to determine the best and

most cost-effective method for each road’s condition. Studies have shown that

using preservation methods to extend the life of roadways achieves economic

savings and transportation efficiencies.

PASER Ratings run from Grade 1 (Failed) to Grade 10 (Excellent). Using 2012

PASER ratings, the following investment would be required to bring the 611.61

miles of paved roads to Excellent (Grade 9-10) condition:

1.93 miles of road at Grade 1 (Failed) – complete reconstruction $ 1,933,031

24.50 miles at Grade 2 – complete reconstruction $18,373,283

93.64 miles at Grade 3 – complete reconstruction $70,233,633

126.37 miles at Grade 4 – mill & resurface $18,954,900

52.69 miles at Grade 5 – mill & resurface $ 7,903,613

95.99 miles at Grade 6 – crack seal and chipseal $ 3,839,429

106.94 miles at Grade 7 – crack seal and chipseal $ 4,277,558

61.10 miles at Grade 8 – crack seal $ 305,510

Total cost to complete repairs $125,820,958

It is much less expensive to maintain the condition of a road that is already in fair

to good condition than it is to completely reconstruct a road that has deteriorated.

A. B.

Year of Chip Seal Asphalt

Construction Preservation Overlay

per Mile per Mile

1997 $3,800 $52,500

2002 $12,700 $47,500

2007 $14,600 $90,600

2012 $26,800 $101,200

1997-2012 Price Change 605% 93%

A.- Single chip seal roadway

B.- Overlay roadway with 1.5 inches of new Asphalt pavement

Cost Comparison of Various Types of Pavement Preservation over the Years

$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

1997 2002 2007 2012

Do

llars

Year

15-Year Cost Comparison

A.

B.

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C. D. E.

Year of Crush & Shape Road Road Bridge

Construction with New Pavement Reconstruct Replace

per Mile per Mile per Location

1997 $166,000 $431,000 $316,000

2002 $204,000 $516,000 $505,000

2007 $261,800 $938,400 $717,000

2012 $533,300 $1,144,092 $816,500

1997-2012 Price Change 221% 165% 158%

C.- Crush and shape old asphalt then overlay with 4 inches of Asphalt and add gravel to shoulders to match

D.- Totally remove and replace roadway and all drainage structures

E.- Totally remove and replace average sized county bridge (80 foot span)

Cost Comparison of Various Types of Construction over the Years

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

1997 2002 2007 2012

Do

llars

Year

15-Year Cost Comparison

C.

D.

E.

Page 2

to a Condition of 8 or Better

Estimate to Improve Hard Surface Road System

SCCRC Road System Rating Summary

250.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

Miles

2010

2011

0.00

50.00

100.00

2012

Failed Excellent

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2010 2.62 17.37 134.96 211.59 92.94 19.17 68.21 32.80 28.89 3.05

Road Miles Condition

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Paser Rating

2011 2.08 28.03 101.03 122.74 86.98 73.88 76.74 77.69 36.91 5.54

2012 1.93 24.50 93.64 126.37 52.69 95.99 106.94 61.10 43.78 4.67

Condition Paved Road

Miles ‐ 2012

1 Reconstruct 1.93 $1,000,000 $1,933,031

$ $

Repair Repair Cost Total

Repair Costper Mile

2 Reconstruct 24.50

3 Reconstruct 93.64

4 Mill and Resurface 126.37

5 Mill and Resurface 52.69

6 Crack Seal and Chipseal 95.99

7 Crack Seal and Chipseal 106.94

8 Crack Seal 61.10

$40,000 $4,277,558

$5,000 $305,510

$150,000 $18,954,900

$150,000 $7,903,613

$40,000 $3,839,429

$750,000 $18,373,283

$750,000 $70,233,633

8 Crack Seal 61.10

9 No Repairs Needed 43.78

10 No Repairs Needed 4.67

ShortfallYearActualAnnual Cost to Complete

Repairs over 5 Years Expenditures

$0 $0

$125,820,958

$5,000 $305,510

$0 $0

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

‐$23,672,891

‐$26,412,509

$2,855,986

$1,991,691

$3,913,515

$2,652,476

‐$22,653,899

‐$24,492,686

‐$31,250,539

$25,164,192

$27,348,672

$33,242,230

$27,586,406

$29,064,985

$2,510,293

M

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Examples of roads with PASER Ratings of 3 (Poor Condition):

The St. Clair County Road Commission is responsible for 226 bridges – the

second-highest number in Michigan for bridges on a county system, only

exceeded by Wayne County. Yet the Road Commission receives no additional

funding for bridge maintenance, inspection or replacement.

Due to structural deficiency or functional obsolescence, St. Clair County currently

has 24 local bridges and 13 primary bridges posted with weight limits. These 37

bridges represent 16.4% of the bridges on the county system. Postings effectively

limit or close these routes to industrial, commercial, and agricultural traffic,

having a major impact on the local and state economies. And these numbers are

expected to increase.

To repair or replace a bridge is an expensive undertaking. Between 2008 and

2012, the St. Clair County Road Commission expended $21.2 million in bridge

repairs and replacement. To replace or repair all 37 currently posted bridges

within St. Clair County would cost $31 million. (The average cost for a bridge on

the local system is $704,125; on the primary system, $1,089,077.)

29 27 28 28 28

37

44

50

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

St. Clair County Road Commission Load Posted Bridges

SCCRC Projected

The cost of bridge repair and replacement has risen, while road commission

funding has diminished. Posting bridges forces commercial and residential traffic

to take detours that increase driving time and expense. But a bridge that fails to

meet standards must be posted to ensure the safety of the driving public. Traffic

safety and economic concerns are impacted by the condition of our bridge

network, making this issue of vital importance both locally and state-wide.

~~~~~~

As the numbers show, there is a need for increased funding for roads and bridges.

Investment in our transportation system pays dividends for all facets of our

society: businesses, agriculture, industry, and the public. The St. Clair County

Road Commission is dedicated in its efforts to provide a safe, efficient and cost-

effective transportation system and actively seeks support from legislators,

motorists and residents.

5.1

19.2

9.4

5.1

13.4

17.1

6.3 5.6

1.2

7.6

2.7 2.1 1.5

3.3

1.4 2.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

$ -

mill

ion

s

Total Metro

SCCRC

MDOT Projected

Regional Bridge Council - Metro District Funding

Indian Trail Rd Bridge over Belle River

$1,400,000

Kilburn Road Bridge over Plum Creek

$740,000

Recently replaced bridges in St. Clair County

Upcoming bridge work in St. Clair County

Capac Road Bridge Anchor Bay Drive Bridge