By Jim Bloch
The section of Fred W. Moore Highway from the western city limits of St. Clair at the Pine River Bridge east to Carney Drive could be resurfaced in 2026 if the city wins a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The city council voted 7-0 at its regular meeting June 2 to apply for a $241,250 grant from MDOT’s Transportation Development Fund Category B program.
“This program allows all cities and villages within the state of Michigan with populations less than 10,000 to apply for financial assistance for road improvement projects,” said Ryan Kern, a project manager with AEW, Inc., one of the city’s contracted engineering consultants, in a letter to City Superintendent Quentin Bishop. “The call for projects to be constructed within the 2026 construction season has been released. This program allows communities to apply for no greater than $250,000 in grant assistance for each project submitted with a match of at least $250,000.”
City officials and the engineers at AEW rely on the Pavement Surface Evaluations and Ranking system to select streets for repair based on their condition from worst to best; they attempt to allocate roadwork evenly between the three wards.
“Based upon the current capital improvement plan for the city’s street network and a recent review of the current condition of streets rated in fair or poor condition, it has been identified to apply for funding to complete the asphalt milling and resurfacing of Fred Moore Highway from the west city limits at the Pine River Bridge to Carney Drive,” said Kern.
In the supporting resolution approved by the city council, the city pledged to “provide at least $241,250 toward the construction of the project, and all costs for design, permit fees, administrative costs and cost overruns.”
The city also promised to maintain the roadway during its design life.
The council approved the resolution without discussion.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
