The mayor of Southfield, Michigan gave her State of the City address today. She acknowledged that the largest concern of every day citizens is the horrible conditions of Southfield’s roads, but declined to comment directly on why they have fallen apart and no potholes have been filled.
She blamed the State and Federal funding and deflected with optimism about improvements to Evergreen, which happens to be the main road leading to City Hall. She did advise that there would be repairs to Greenfield Road, which is probably one of the hardest hit roads in all of Michigan, but didn’t give an exact timeline or discuss any of the other roads that need to be addressed.
The people of Southfield should feel let down. The City has failed to fill in hundreds of potholes around the city. The Southfield taxpayer hand over significant amount of taxes each year, they deserve decent roads to get to and from work.
Now, let’s take a moment to talk about the 800 pound gorilla in the room, our roads.
I want you to know that I feel your pain.
It is clear that the way we currently fund our roads is not working.
We need to fix this problem at both the state and federal level.
We must also develop new technology to construct and maintain our roads so that they will last longer.
I’ve had this conversation with City Council and we would like to reach out to LTU to partner together to seek new solutions to this old problem.
And now for some very good news… I am VERY PLEASED to tell you that a welcome improvement to the City is coming this spring with the Evergreen Road Improvement – Something I’m sure is music to all of your ears and your hubcaps!
The Project will involve the total reconstruction Evergreen into a four-lane boulevard.
The Evergreen Road Project will incorporate many new amenities that will make the corridor more pedestrian-friendly and attractive, including:
a mid-block crossing and plaza, benches and landscaping, decorative lighting, stormwater features, and a rain garden.
The $12 million project will begin construction the first week of May and is expected to be completed by spring of 2015.
Reconstruction of Evergreen Road from Eight Mile to Nine Mile will also begin in the spring as well as Reconstruction of southbound Greenfield Road from 8 Mile to 9 Mile.
Check the City’s Web site for construction updates.City of Southfield: https://www.cityofsouthfield.com/NewsEvents/tabid/158/mid/1480/newsid1480/1540/Southfield-Mayor-Brenda-Lawrences-2014-State-of-the-City-address/Default.aspx
