The City of Grand of Grand Rapids is hosting a ribbon cutting for the Pearl Street improvements today. This afternoon, downtown, city and MDOT officials will celebrate new roadways, streetscapes and an interpretive sign about the Pearl Street Bridge’s history.
“You only get one chance to make a first impression, so this is going to be really, really important and we’re thrilled with the improvements that have been made to the road.”
That’s Steve Guitar, Communications Director for the City of Grand Rapids. You may recall lots of construction on Pearl Street near the Public Museum that went on for some time. Well, today, Guitar says city officials are celebrating the transformation of one of downtown’s great entry ways into the city.
“We just completed more than 2M dollars of improvements to Pearl Street. They include not only improvements to roadway, but also the streetscapes, we included planters and seating and benches and new lighting along that stretch of roadway.”
The stretch impacted is Pearl Street from Mt. Vernon to the Grand River. The ribbon cutting is taking place in front of the Grand Rapids Public Museum front lawn. But Guitar adds, Pearl Street is not the only place you’ll see improvements.
“Thanks to the taxpayers that voted for the income tax extension on the roadways we are enhancing, not only the downtown, but all the neighborhoods around the city; Grand Rapids is experiencing tremendous growth and the curbside appeal of our neighborhoods and our downtown, starts with the roadway.”
