News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Elaine Pearcey, of Alpena Township, stands on the shoulder of 3rd Avenue near Thunder Bay Junior High School on Friday. Pearcey opposes a proposed project that would extend 3rd Avenue out to Tamarack Road. The community is divided on the issue. A public hearing on the project is slated for 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Alpena Township office building.

ALPENA TOWNSHIP — A proposed project that would extend 3rd Avenue out to Tamarack Road and potentially see the construction of a new roundabout in Alpena Township has drawn criticism from numerous residents while earning the support of many others.

Alpena Township and the Alpena County Road Commission have each said they are willing to contribute $1 million to the project, though Alpena Township has yet to officially commit the money.

Officials will reveal more details on the project during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the township office building, 4385 U.S.-23 North.

While officials think the project would cost about $2 million, final design plans and costs should be completed soon. A proposed roundabout near the intersection of Barrington Circle and 3rd Avenue could bump up the cost.

The Alpena County Road Commission and Alpena Township would split any added cost 50-50, Road Commission Managing Director Ryan Brege said.

The Road Commission owns the property from the end of 3rd Avenue west of Hobbs Drive to Tamarack Road, so officials would not have to acquire any land to extend the road.

Some residents believe the extension would lead to additional traffic on 3rd Avenue, which runs in front of Alpena High School and Thunder Bay Junior High School. Some worry added traffic would make the road more dangerous for the many students who walk to school there and other pedestrians in the area.

Supporters of the extension say it would make it easier for first responders to access the school during an emergency.

The intersection at Hobbs and 3rd is one of the most dangerous in Alpena and has for years been a hotbed for crashes.

Many people who live in the area oppose the project because it would mean a large spike in traffic that would disrupt their quality of life. Some said they’re open to an alternative, such as an access road to the school coming from a different direction. Others said wetlands in the area would make it tough to get needed permitting for the project and water in the area would damage the new road quickly.

Gary Goren said his back yard would butt up against the expanded road. He said he has many concerns about the project, but one of his largest concerns is how the Road Commission and township seem to be moving swiftly.

“Out of nowhere, this thing just took off like a freight train, and I question the transparency of it,” he said. “I know this has been discussed and considered for 20 years, but, now, it is moving way too fast.”

Joe Rings, who lives in Alpena, said he believes the project would be a good thing, because it could have a positive impact on the traffic on M-32. He said he suspects designers would need to add a traffic signal at the corner of the highway and Tamarack Road. Rings said he’s open to the idea of a roundabout.

“I’m all for it,” Rings said. “It could alleviate congestion around the two schools and give easier access to M-32. If there is a roundabout, we’ll get used to it, just like the one-way streets downtown.”

Elaine Pearcey serves as the Village Green Condo Association board president. She said most of the seniors living in the 64-unit housing complex at the corner of Hobbs and 3rd oppose the project. She said residents expressed concerns about their safety while taking walks near the complex.

“I don’t know what they are thinking,” Pearcey said. “A lot of (residents) like to walk, and they already have to cross the road to get to the path. They cross the streets at all times of the day, and they have safety concerns, too. I also think there are a lot of ways the township can use that money more wisely.”

Jessica Hatch lives on Ferncliff Drive and travels through the Hobbs-3rd intersection often. She said the current traffic design is not ideal and puts students and residents near the school at risk. She said the road extension could alleviate some of that. She said extending the road would also open the door to further development in the area.

“I know exactly what that intersection is like, and, if anything bad were to happen at that school or to any of the people on Barrington Circle, there is only one way in and one way out for police and firefighters, and that’s sad,” she said. “I think it will relieve some of the traffic congestion and also make M-32 safer.”

Brege, the Road Commission managing director, said a roundabout would slow the speed of traffic near residents who live in that area and would reduce noise.

Brege said plans include extending the sidewalk that currently runs from Hobbs to the junior high all the way down to Barrington Circle.

Brege said there are no plans to add streetlights.

“We don’t have street lights on any out roads except on the Bagley Street Bridge,” he said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.