From the very start, it was clear that this project would be unlike any other that the Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) had undertaken. Not only would it require a great deal of funding, but it would also necessitate a high-level of teamwork and cooperation.
“The thing I’m most proud of on this project is the collaboration,” said John Crumm, director of planning for MCDR. “From the very beginning, we were all on the same page. We wanted to build a state-of-the-art road that would put our communities on the map. The team knew that would only happen if we worked closely with all the project’s stakeholders.”
That collaboration was a key factor in securing the $97.8 million dollars of federal funding through an INFRA grant for the $185 million dollar project, and it continued with the formation of the Innovation Council.
The Innovation Council Creates a Roadmap for the Future
At the start of the project, the Innovate Mound team formed the Innovation Council, a group of industry leaders charged with injecting innovative concepts into the project.
To date, the group has had several workshops to brainstorm new ideas for building a smarter road that would set the standard for emerging mobility technology.
“The Innovation Council built a roadmap with ideas and recommendations for the project,” said Jim Barbaresso, senior vice president for HNTB, Inc. HNTB was hired by MCDR to assist with project development. “We are using their feedback to inspire a design that will be the foundation for the future of mobility in Michigan and throughout the nation.”