NORTHVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Eight Mile bridge rehabilitation and deck replacement project is now scheduled to be complete in October, two months later than originally expected.
Wayne County Department of Public Services officials say utility issues at the onset of the project and weather impacts pushed the completion date back from August.
Since the bridge closed in March, residents in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Northville say drivers have ignored posted detours and cut through their streets instead.
Norm Fankell said the increase in traffic has transformed his typically quiet street.
"This is very typical to see big trucks coming through here taking a shortcut. I've had trucks so big through here they can't even make the turn," said Fankell.
Fankell said the problem goes beyond large vehicles.
"We've had situations here where people just tend to speed up and down. You get a lot of traffic. We had one woman across the street take a fire hydrant out," Fankell said.
Harold Smith said the speed of drivers is his primary concern.
"The drivers get frustrated and they go through too fast and they forget that there's children and pets in this area. This is a residential area," said Smith.
Northville Police said they have seen the uptick in traffic and increased enforcement in the area. The department also added stop signs at Baseline and Horton roads.
Barbara Benton said the added police presence has made a difference.
"I have seen certainly an increase in traffic, but thankfully I've also seen an increase in police presence. Police have kinda been monitoring especially the intersection here at Baseline and Novi Street because a lot of people don't stop at that stop sign or they're speeding," said Benton.
Fankell said he had been watching the calendar in hopes of an August reopening.
"I was a little disappointed," he said of the delay.
Kaoru Kawashima said the delay was unwelcome but understandable.
"Hearing that it's delayed is kind of a bummer," said Kawashima. "If it has to be done it has to be done, I suppose."
Smith said despite the frustration, he supports the work being done.
"I'm happy that the work is being done on the bridge."
Residents say they hope drivers will heed their plea and slow down while the project wraps up.
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