Paw Paw Avenue & Riverside Drive Improvements Project Announced - Public Hearing Scheduled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2022. The City Commission will host a public hearing on June 7 starting at 5:30pm to discuss the Paw Paw Ave. & Riverside Improvements Project. 

City Announces Paw Paw Ave. & Riverside Drive Improvements Project Using Grant Funds

Grants to provide $450,000 worth of improvements for 2023 Project

Watervliet, MI – Mayor Deah Muth and the Watervliet City Commission are proud to announce the Paw Paw Avenue and Riverside Drive improvements project slated for completion in 2023. In February, the City was notified that it had received a matching grant totaling $450,000 for street repairs and maintenance.

While the City had plans to begin addressing the road conditions and updating the water main/services within the next five years, the City was able to accelerate the implementation of the above referenced project through the Paw Paw Lake Small Urban Group (SUG) from FY2025 or FY2027 to FY2022 by fast-tracking the design and obligation of funds. SUG funding is typically only available in odd years (2023, 2025, etc.) and then split among six plus municipal jurisdictions/agencies. The funding of federal aid roads through this mechanism is periodic at best under current funding frameworks. Fortunately, American Rescue Plan Act provisions made $375,000 of SUG and $81,000 of Highway Infrastructure Program funds available for a project in 2022/2023 if an agency could achieve obligation by October, 2022.  The City jumped at the opportunity to capture these funds with an understandably tight timeline for project design, permitting and bidding (the items preceding obligation).

“I really applaud our City staff here, they went after a grant for a project in 2025 or 2027 and brought back funding for a project that can be completed in the next year. This project will address the road conditions and allow us to really impact that stretch of the City in a positive way,” stated Mayor Deah Muth. “Plus, we’re really doing a good job to stretch our tax dollars with these two grants, it’s a big win for our residents and visitor alike” she went on to say.

The Project involves 0.35 miles of roadway reconstruction with curb and gutter on Paw Paw Avenue and Riverside Drive from Peachtree Place to M-140 including; HMA surface removal, storm sewer, sand subbase, aggregate base, HMA surfacing, sidewalk, ADA ramps, guardrail, pavement markings, permanent signage, water line/service maintenance and restoration. There will also be the addition of a bike lane along the entire length of the project. The majority of these improvements will be completed within the city right-of-way along Paw Paw Avenue and Riverside Drive. In areas where work is being completed outside of the City right-of-way, permanent easements will be sought to complete the project.

The City of Watervliet respectfully invites members of the effected neighborhoods as well as the general public to participate in a public hearing on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 5:30pm to discuss the road project. Our engineering team as well as members of the City Commission will be present.

For more information, please call Watervliet City Hall at 269-463-6769 during normal business hours.