By Sterling McGinn
The McMillan Township Board has voted to replace their light poles, which are situated along M-123 from Victory Way, south, to the top of the hill by the B.P. gas station beginning in the spring of 2026.
The move for their replacement stems from deterioration near the bases due to years of salt on the roadway in the winter months.
“They are becoming a liability—they are beginning to rust through at the bases and are a safety concern,” said Township Supervisor Art Schultz.
The poles have been in use for approximately 40 years in McMillan Township, though their original home was on a significant landmark of Michigan. Prior to being obtained by the township, when the road was changed to four lanes, the light poles were actually used on the Mackinac Bridge and may be from the opening of the bridge in 1957. The poles have been repainted and repaired over the years. There are 32 poles that line south M-123.
Though no decision has been made on the fate of the old poles, the township will likely dispose of them for scrap metal. “We have not decided what we will do with them, but they are very heavy and it’s not likely that anyone could use them,” said Schultz.
The township board received several quotes for new poles: two for steel poles and one for aluminum poles. The quote for aluminum poles was quite a bit cheaper than steel.
The board recently voted to purchase 32, 25-foot-tall aluminum light poles at a cost of $121,638.40 from KEEN Technical Solutions LLC. Of Traverse City, and it includes 32 break-away bases and the masts.
The township is holding off on the project until 2026 to split the entire cost between two budget years. Casey Shanley of Newberry Electrical Services will perform the work.
Shanley recommended that the bases also be replaced, as many of them area damaged and missing parts.
The wires inside the poles will be replaced, but the underground wiring can still be used.
Shanley expects one of the largest expenses for the project to be the signage and the lane shifting used while the work is being performed. “The lane will have to be closed—we want to pass it over to someone who professionally does that,” he stated at a recent meeting of the township board. “They were thinking about $2,500 to $3,000 a day.”
Shanley said the plan is to remove and install three poles per day, so the project would likely take 20 to 25 days to compete.
The supplies have been ordered and will be received this year. The board will store the poles and supplies at the cemetery until work can begin next year.
