State Transportation Commission Eliminates Metrics.

Business Editors

OKEMOS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 2000

The State Transportation Commission today eliminated the use of the metric system of measurement on all Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects, thus joining a national trend of keeping with the English system of measurement.

The policy is likely to become effective in the very near future, but could take years to be fully implemented since all projects already designed or under construction in metrics will stay on course under the current measurement method, said the assistant executive director of AUC, Michigan's Heavy Construction Association.

"We commend the commission for their leadership in eliminating MDOT's use of metrics," said Mike Nystrom, whose association represents the heavy construction industry. "Nearly six months ago, AUC coordinated a coalition effort of industry and other interested groups that led a campaign to eliminate MDOT's use of the metrics system. Our main objective was to highlight the fact that numerous problems occur when an industry is forced to deal with two very different systems of measurement."

The State Transportation Commission has oversight authority over MDOT. The actual new policy approved by the commission states that MDOT "shall utilize standard English units of measurement at each stage of design, construction and maintenance for all projects commenced after the effective date of this policy. This policy shall not apply to projects the Department has designed, or substantially begun a design for in metric prior to the effective date."

"This is a step in the right direction for everyone involved in rebuilding Michigan's roads because having dual systems is just a forced math conversion method of construction," Nystrom said. "In addition, the use of a single system will reduce the opportunity for mistakes, help avoid safety hazards and possibly save millions of dollars."

In 1998, the federal government removed the requirement that states convert to metrics on all federal-aid highway projects through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), thus making conversion to this system optional for states. Michigan was one of only 12 states that continued to develop projects under the metrics system.

AUC, Michigan's Heavy Construction Association, represents the interests of over 550 members statewide. When AUC (Associated Underground Contractors) was founded 54 years ago, the majority of its members were underground contractors. Since then, the organization has expanded to include many other areas of Michigan's construction industry such as road/bridge building, utility distribution, demolition, and more, thus becoming Michigan's Heavy Construction Association. Member companies receive a variety of services, including labor relations, legislative representation, construction safety services, regulatory involvement (Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, etc.), utility damage consultation, seminars, publications and more. For more information, check out www.aucmi.org.