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Residents report advancing pavement damage on Southpointe bike path; commission to inspect and notify DPS
Summary
Residents told the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission that sections of the Southpointe bike path have widened cracks and root damage. Commissioners said they will document the damage, notify DPS and consider repairs within the township pavement budget.
At the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission meeting, resident Raymond Geist reported that sections of the Southpointe bike path have developed long cracks, some wider than a half-inch, and that root intrusion is worsening the surface.
Why it matters: the impaired surface can present hazards to bicyclists, pedestrians and runners on a frequently used stretch; residents pressed the commission for a maintenance plan and timetable.
Geist said the trouble stretches from Southpointe toward Grow Road and that he first noticed significant deterioration in the fall. "I would say the Southpointe 1 is in definitely deteriorated condition and a good portion of that," Geist said. A second resident in the meeting attributed much of the damage to large trees whose roots are lifting the pavement.
Commission members responded that the township follows an asset-management approach: staff or members take photographs, assess whether damage merits a work order and either have the Department of Public Services (DPS) repair it in-house or put the work out to bid. A commissioner noted the township typically performs a path assessment annually or every other year and prioritizes repairs by condition.
Commissioners described limitations on funding and repair methods. One commissioner said partial-depth repairs sometimes worsen neighboring pavement and that, for older paths, full reconstruction may be necessary. The commission noted the township receives about $90,000 annually for pavement-related work, which covers all pavement, bridges, mowing along paths and snow clearance; commissioners said that budget must be stretched across multiple needs.
The commission agreed to document Geist's report, have a commission member inspect and photograph the path, and notify Derek (DPS) so staff can determine whether the problem is a maintenance issue or requires larger work.
The meeting record does not show a formal motion or timeline for repairs. Commissioners said they will follow up with DPS and that any substantive repair plan would be scheduled within existing pavement budgeting processes.
