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City of Grand Rapids Vital Streets Initiative announces 30 additional miles of road projects

asphalt roller photo
pixabay.com

Over the past six years The City of Grand Rapids has repaired and resurfaced 427 miles of city streets. Year seven begins in July.

Beginning next month, the City of Grand Rapids will begin improving another 30 miles of streets through June 2021 with the approval of the Grand Rapids City Commission.

It’s a $10.5 million investment the city says impacts 59 locations in all three wards. There are dozens of resurfacing, road repair and Public Works Department paving projects.

The city began its Vital Streets Initiative after voters approved the program in 2014. Back then, only 37% of streets were considered to be in “good” or “fair” condition. It’s improved to 61%. Vital Streets dollars and state road funding are devoted to restoring 70% of city streets to “fair” or “good” condition over 15-years.

Sidewalk improvements are also in need with only 30% of the city’s 890-miles of sidewalks inspected and repaired. The city is investing an additional $2.2 million toward their repair this season.

I’m Patrick Center.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.