It’s finally happening. We can say good-bye to potholes and rough surfaces on many Detroit roads.
The City of Detroit has launched a $58 million project that will repave 88 miles of roads in neighborhoods and some major thoroughfares across the city this year.
Repaving those roads will provide jobs.
While residential street paving is done by city workers, many major thoroughfares are paved by private companies. Contractors are required to hire 51 percent of their workers from within the city of Detroit. Last year the city’s road-paving contractors hired 54.5 percent of their workforce from within Detroit.
“We want to see Detroiters rebuilding Detroit, and we have a lot of opportunity with this year’s road construction program,” says Ron Brundidge, director, Department of Public Works.
Some of the major thoroughfares being resurfaced this year include segments of Joy Road, Russell, Fenkell, Cadieux, McGraw, and E. McNichols, according to Brundidge.
In addition to the resurfacing 58 miles of residential streets and 30 miles of major thoroughfares, the dilapidated Bagley Street Bridge near 16th Street in Mexicantown and the West Parkway Culvert in Rouge Park will be renovated this year at a combined cost of $3 million. A portion of West Parkway has been closed for the past two years due to the condition of the culvert, which spans a branch of the Rouge River. When the project is completed, the road will be reopened to traffic.
Below is a map showing where the resurfacing will take place by City Council district.
A good portion of the dollars needed for this year’s road improvement program will come from bond funds approved last year for improvements to several of Detroit’s major commercial corridors. Of the $58 million program, $17 million will be used this year to resurface 17 miles of major roads. An additional $17 million in bond funds will be used to replace broken sidewalks alongside the road projects, Brundidge says.
To find out what roads are included in the project click here.
Good-bye potholes! City of Detroit launches project to resurface 88 miles of roads this year, provide jobs added by Marge Sorge on
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