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Residents press Eastpointe City Council on Nine Mile 'road diet' and possible roundabout ahead of Oct. 15 forum
Summary
Residents and business owners told the council Oct. 7 they oppose reducing a stretch of Nine Mile to three lanes and a proposed roundabout, citing response‑time and business‑impact concerns. The city will host a public forum Oct. 15 where engineers will present three‑ and five‑lane designs and the comment period will extend a few days after that.
Residents filled public comment periods at the Oct. 7 Eastpointe City Council meeting to press the council on a proposed road diet for Nine Mile Road and a possible roundabout.
Multiple speakers said they had not been adequately consulted and warned the changes would harm the community’s character and local businesses. “We don't want that stupid three lane road,” said Mike Lamod, a longtime resident. Business owners and managers who spoke to residents said construction has already reduced hours and staff at some establishments; one resident said several managers were “dead set against the road diet.”
Residents and councilmembers also raised public‑safety concerns. Several commenters asked whether police and fire chiefs had weighed in on how lane reductions or a roundabout would affect first‑responder access and response times. John Solera told the council he had seen no safety study presented and said emergency runs were a central concern for opponents.
City staff said engineers will present draft three‑lane and five‑lane drawings at a public forum scheduled Oct. 15 at City Hall. Interim Administrator Elkie Doom said the forum is not a council meeting, that the council will not sit on the dais, and that the city will accept comments through the end of the week after the forum; those comments will be forwarded to MDOT/NEPA with the project submission.
Cost estimates cited in public comments included engineering figures reported in local media: the consulting firm AEW gave an estimate of $5.38 million for a three‑lane design and $5.73 million for a five‑lane design, figures commenters said were higher than earlier estimates. One resident asked whether the federal grant covers a percentage of the total cost or is a fixed amount.
What’s next: the city will host the Oct. 15 public forum where residents can hear engineers present the alternate designs and submit written comments; councilmembers encouraged residents to view the design presentations before the comment deadline so comments can be informed.
