South Kent News

City of East Grand Rapids issued the following announcement on Dec 30.

Each year, EGR’s Department of Public Works is committed to improving the approximate 50 miles of streets and 80 miles of sidewalks in our community. Thanks to a voter-approved millage, our team has successfully maintained and improved City street surface conditions since 2015. 

This work to enhance our community’s infrastructure continued in a big way in 2021, resulting in a higher-than-expected PASER rating: 81% of City streets are rated fair-excellent. This latest pavement condition rating is well above the projected 50%. The 2021 ratings demonstrate just how critical resident tax dollars are to the success of the department’s street and sidewalk improvements.

Here is a detailed look at the 2021 PASER ratings:

Thanks to the 2015 millage and water and sewer investments, here is what the City accomplished in 2021:

Street Construction

• Mill and overlay: 2.82 miles
• Cape seal: 2.29 miles
• Micro-surfacing: 0.10 miles
• Total: 6.51 miles
• Investment total: $1,003,000
• Hall Street-Federal Aid Project-Mill and overlay: 1.3 miles
• Hall Street Joint Section (Plymouth to 1,275 feet east-approximately Wilshire Drive)

1. Federal grant STPU funds through MDOT: $245,363
2. City of EGR: $106,763.48
3. City of GR (reimbursed back to EGR): $122,575.13.
4. Total overall project: $474,701.61

• Hall Street EGR Only Section (approximately Wilshire Drive to Lake Drive)

1. Federal grant STPU funds through MDOT: $641,718
2. City of EGR: $522,091.58
3. Total overall project: $1,163,809.58

• Total: 6.52 miles

Sidewalk Rehabilitation and Replacement Program:

• The City utilizes $150,000 of the 2015 streets and sidewalk millage to rehabilitate and replace sidewalks in the city in targeted areas. 
• In 2021 the targeted area was west of Breton to the west city limit and from Boston north to Elmwood.
• The City also replaces sidewalk throughout the community based on reported concerns that meet rehabilitation or replacement criteria.

Utility Infrastructure Improvements:

Water Main Projects

• Rehabilitation of 3,167 feet (system stretches 53 miles)
• 1% moving from level 5 rating to level 1 rating
• Investment total: $510,000

Sanitary Sewer Projects

• Rehabilitation of 4,187 feet 
• 2% system improvement from level 5 rating to level 1 rating (PACP Asset Management Rating)
• Investment total: $146,000
• Rehabilitation of two sanitary sewer lift stations, investment total: $330,000

Storm Sewer Projects

• Rehabilitation of 166 feet 
• Placement of new storm sewer 3,531 feet 
• 1.7% system improvement from level 5 rating to level 1 rating (PACP Asset Management Rating)
• Investment total: $126,100

As we wrap up 2021, the Public Works Department is reviewing asset ratings across utility infrastructure and funding levels so it can finalize projects for 2022. 

“We would not have reached such success with our PASER ratings without the millage and the investments we have made in utility infrastructure thanks to water and sewer utility rates,” said Doug La Fave, deputy city manager and Public Works director. “The millage has enabled us to address each street intentionally, conducting the right project at the right time. “While planning, we consider several aspects of each project and its relation to others. So far, we’ve not only used funding efficiently but have also built processes that will work for the continual enhancement of our infrastructure. 

“While we have surpassed our 2025 goal of 70% good/fair to excellent ratings four years early, we will continue to improve our community’s streets and sidewalks for today and well into the future.”  

EGR streets and sidewalks are maintained and improved for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. In 2021, the City continued to work with Progressive AE and Aligned Planning on the Mobility/Bicycle Action Plan, which was presented to the City Commission, revised and finalized during the first half of the year. This plan will advise future road and sidewalk projects by providing inclusive avenues for all who utilize EGR streets and sidewalks for years to come. This year specifically, the Public Works Department completed two important projects that have received positive feedback: The addition of a four-way stop at Lakeside Drive/Greenwood Avenue and Reeds Lake Boulevard — a popular area for pedestrians to access the Reeds Lake Trail – as well as the rotomilling and resurfacing of Hall Street, which significantly enhanced the road and aligned with the Mobility/Bicycle Action Plan, balancing improvements to pedestrian safety and bicycle facilities while maintaining on-street parking to the fullest extent possible.  

The City is committed to keeping residents, businesses and visitors informed of construction projects. Notices are provided to those directly impacted by construction work before it begins, and eastgr.org/construction is regularly updated with timelines, contractor information, detailed explanations and more. For information about major projects, plans, road closures and public engagement opportunities, follow the City on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for the biweekly e-newsletter, the East Express, at eastgr.org/signup

Original source can be found here.

Source: City of East Grand Rapids