Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nine Mile Road Diet topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Eastpointe City Council to reject three‑lane ‘road diet’ and roundabout on Nine Mile
Summary
Multiple residents warned the proposed three‑lane redesign and a suggested roundabout on Nine Mile (between Tuscany and Kelly) could harm businesses and slow emergency response; council confirmed a public forum for Oct. 15 where engineers will show three‑ and five‑lane drawings.
At an Oct. 7 meeting, Eastpointe City residents urged the City Council to reject a proposed road‑diet plan that would reduce part of Nine Mile to three lanes and to provide clearer information about a potential roundabout. Speakers cited business impacts and emergency‑response concerns and asked for more time to review design drawings ahead of the Oct. 15 public forum.
Resident Mike Lamod opened public comment by telling council, "We don't want that stupid three lane road," and challenged where funding or legal authority to acquire property for a roundabout would come from. Several other residents echoed worries about first‑responder access and business losses caused by prior construction on Nine Mile.
Interim administrator Elkie Doom confirmed engineers will present both three‑lane and five‑lane drawings at a public forum scheduled for Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.; the city will accept written and emailed comments through the Friday after the forum and will forward public input to NEPA for consideration. Doom specified the three‑lane proposal under discussion is the segment between Tuscany and Kelly.
Speakers cited published cost estimates: AEW provided figures reported in local media of about $5.38 million for the three‑lane design and $5.73 million for the five‑lane option; other public commenters said those estimates were roughly $1.2–$1.3 million higher than earlier 2024 estimates, representing about a 30% increase from earlier projections. Residents asked whether the federal grant is a fixed amount or a percentage and who would cover potential cost overruns or litigation related to right‑of‑way acquisition for a roundabout.
Several managers and business owners who spoke to a resident said they rely heavily on drive‑through traffic and fear lane reductions would further reduce customer access; multiple speakers requested the city consult business managers and first responders before committing to a lane reduction or roundabout.
The council did not take a final vote on street design at the Oct. 7 meeting. Officials urged residents to attend the Oct. 15 public forum to view engineering drawings and submit comments; NEPA will receive the compiled public input as part of the project’s next submittal.
