Published: October 16, 2009 07:25 am      

Federal funds going to three area counties

ELBERTA -- Three northwestern Michigan counties will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government for transportation-related projects.

In Benzie County, $362,350 will be used on a project that includes streetscape enhancements on Frankfort Avenue (M-168) from M-22 north and west to Elberta Waterfront Park. The project includes decorative sidewalks, street lights, trees, benches and trash containers, all done in conjunction with a road reconstruction project planned by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The total budget is $452,938, including $90,588 from MDOT.

Leelanau County also will see improvements. MDOT workers will expand the M-22 Heritage Route non-motorized system by widening existing 3-foot shoulders to 5-foot shoulders from the Benzie County line north to the southern village limits in Empire. The total project cost is $322,692, including $258,154 in federal money and $64,538 from MDOT.

Finally, the Manistee County Road Commission will pave 4-foot shoulders on Red Apple Road from Cherry Road to West Fox Farm Road to further develop a non-motorized system south of Manistee. The price tag is $186,928, including $136,928 in federal money, $30,000 from the road commission and $20,000 from Filer Charter Township.