Amendments To Grade Separation

AMENDMENTS TO GRADE SEPARATION

Are Apparently in the Interest of the City

RELIEVE FROM LIABILITY

For Any Expense or Damage Caused by the Separation of the Grades.

The Ann Arbor railroad have consented to make some changes in the amendments to the grade separation ordinance presented to the council last Monday night. The main point of difference between the new ordinance and the old grade separation ordinance was that it did away with the viaduct at the foot of Ann street for which the city was to pay $10,000 and also the viaduct on Liberty street. In return for this the Ann Arbor road agreed to build all the approaches and to save the city harmless from all damage suits which might be brought.

In other words the city was to have grade separation at Miller avenue, Felch street, Huron street and Washington street without its costing the city a penny, if the new ordinance passed, but was not to have grade separation at Liberty street. The saving to the city, if the estimates made by Dean & Co. in their law suits were correct, was at least $30,000 or $40,000.

The city under the new ordinance was not compelled to divert First street as under the old ordinance, which diversion might cost in the neighborhood of $4,000.

The friends of grade separation were somewhat chary about giving up the grade separation on Liberty street.

Thursday, while the council was waiting in vain for kickers on the paving assessments to show up, Chief Engineer Richards and Attorney Cavanaugh appeared to answer any questions on the new ordinance. After a little discussion they agreed to accept a few amendments.

The first and most important was that they put in a clause compelling the Ann Arbor road to separate the grade at Liberty street as originally planned as soon as the city diverted First street.

The other amendment was that the road would construct the sidewalks to the approaches over Liberty street, so that the people would not have to walk in the mud until First street is diverted.

With these changes, it seems to the Argus that the new ordinance is very much in the interest of Ann Arbor, as it relieves the city beyond question from all liability to expense on account of grade separation and saves $10,000 for a viaduct at a place through which no street extends.