Frequently Asked Questions
The Gratiot Ave (M-3) Project
MDOT will rebuild 3.4 miles of Gratiot Ave (M-3) in the city of Roseville in two phases:
- Phase I, 11 Mile Rd to Common Rd, from March-November, 2021
- Phase II, Common Rd to 14 Mile Rd, from March-November, 2022
- MDOT will replace:
- All lanes and turnarounds with new asphalt
- Water mains and storm sewers
- Signs
- Ramps and sidewalks will be added that are ADA compliant
- The Utica Rd intersection will be realigned at M-3 to improve pedestrian safety
- Landscaping will be added
- For more information, download the brochure
We balance our project schedule so each closure is coordinated with the next one to minimize the impact on motorists.
There will a traffic light installed from the ramp to NB Gratiot Ave. We don’t anticipate backups because there is enough space on the off ramp for several vehicles.
On-street parking near Martin Road and the U-turn will be maintained.
Approximately 20 parking spaces.
Lighting is not part of this reconstruction project. We suggest that you contact your city representatives to discuss their lighting plans.
Due to the high volume of traffic on Gratiot Ave/M-3, MDOT has concluded that a road diet (lane reduction) with protected bike lanes would cause gridlock for the 42,000 vehicles that travel daily along this roadway.
The intersection of Utica Rd. and M-3 is being realigned to improve safety and comfort when crossing M-3. Traffic signals will also have pedestrian activated push buttons to ensure the “walk” phase of the traffic signal is activated during the next safe opportunity to cross.
Business During Construction
They will be constructed one side at a time where there is only one access point. One driveway may be closed at a time for properties with multiple access points. MDOT will work with our contractor to provide ample notice to businesses about scheduling and access.
There will be temporary pedestrian detours while the intersection and crosswalks are rebuilt.
We fully understand your concerns and are here to help wherever we can. We have kept records of how traffic flows during major construction projects like this one, and have not seen patterns of reduced traffic over time. In addition, our project manager, Adam Wayne, is available to answer your questions and concerns with information that can keep your customers and employees informed about things like access, traffic shifts and driveway closures. He can be reached here:
Phone: 586-598-9532
Report an issue: Click here
We fully understand your concerns and are here to help wherever we can. We have kept records of how traffic flows during major construction projects like this one, and have not seen patterns of reduced traffic over time. In addition, we are available to answer your questions and concerns with information that can keep your customers and employees informed about things like access, traffic shifts and driveway closures. Feel free to reach out to:
Adam Wayne, PE
MDOT Project Manager
586-598-9532
Report an issue
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Road Materials
The service life of a new asphalt road is approximately 20 years. If there is deterioration, we will mill the top and fill in the road. With concrete patching, you have to close lanes, remove concrete, lay it down, and give it 24-48 hours to cure. Asphalt is better for maintenance in busy areas. Modern asphalt is designed to stand up to heavy commercial traffic without rutting.
We are using hot mixed asphalt. All asphalt materials come from certified sources with quality control and assurance testing done regularly. Our top layer of asphalt is what is called a gap-graded superpave. This mix is used in high traffic areas because it performs the best. It is a specialized mix that has strict aggregate requirements, higher asphalt content and generally results in longer service life.
This project is a full depth hot mix asphalt construction job. No concrete is planned. Calculations have been performed that show that the thickness of the HMA is equivalent to what we would have built if we were using concrete.
MDOT conducts a life cycle cost analysis on the quality materials it uses. In this analysis, planners and engineers study:
- the cost of maintaining the road
- the amount and type of traffic
- the cost of paving material
Visit How to Build a Road for more info.
Although regular road maintenance is expected on any project, we have incorporated the latest technologies on M-3 to increase its life:
- Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) must be placed at temperatures often exceeding 250F, and to last, it’s extremely important that ALL of the pavement is hot, with no cold spots. One of the ways that our contractor ensures that this happens is to use a material transfer device. This device is placed in the front of the paver and ensures that all HMA moves from the truck to the paver efficiently and thoroughly. This prevents some of the HMA from sitting in the paver and cooling off before it can be placed on the roadway.
- One of the ways that pavement begins to fail is when joints between the lanes open up and allow moisture in. We are echelon paving—36' across, not lane by lane—to reduce the number of joint and possible entry points for water. When you add that to our drainable base/additional underdrains, we are greatly reducing the risk of trapping water and freeze/thaw problems that diminish pavement life.
General Questions
Send us your email to join our mailing list and/or contact Adam Wayne via phone or email with your questions and concerns.
We don’t have incentives to finish early, but the contract will be adjusted if the contractor takes longer than planned.
Yes, we can lay pavement in the cold and constantly monitor asphalt temperature for optimum compaction.
Yes, contractors are held responsible for materials, workmanship and performance warranties. They must perform all corrective actions at no cost to MDOT, which conducts cursory and detailed inspections throughout the warranty period.