Dignitaries cut ribbon for official opening of Broadway from Lafayette to Cass. Photos by Dr. Mary Boettger and Dave Rogers. Bay City a Little "Cooler" With State Award for Reconstruction of Broadway
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It took six months and $4.5 million, but the reconstruction of Broadway (M-13) from Lafayette to Cass was worth it, according to city officials.
Bay City is now a somewhat more "Cool City" because of the new road, expected to last 30years, and corridor improvements like lighting and decorative additions, officials were told by Bill Schreck, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)representative.
Buttons were bursting as the bright new concrete strip was officiallyreopened recently with a traditional ribbon cutting, pointing with pride speeches, a mini-parade of vehicles and the Central High Band and a glad-handing reception bringing together city, business and neighborhood development advocates.
OnFebruary 17, officials from the city, MDOT and paving contractor Six-S, of Waterford, will head down I-75 to the posh Troy Marriott Hotel to receive the top award for Urban Arterials from the Michigan Concrete Paving Association (MCPA). The project competed against five others for the award, according to MCPA's director of engineering for southeast Michigan, Kerry Sutton.
Mayor Robert Katt thanked merchants along the urban highway for the "economic pain and suffering" incurred during the construction period.
Three years ago we looked down this road and said "this doesn't look like a cool city, what can we do?" said City Commissioner M.J. Gorney. "Now, here it is, and we can already see signs of revitalization with merchants doing remodeling."
Commissioner John Davidson noted that "the Broadway Management Board is promoting growth opportunities in this end of town."
State Senator James Barcia said: "This is important infrastructure to economic development since Broadway is the gateway to Bay City," calling it "a state of the art project."
City Manager Robert Belleman called the Broadway project "only the beginning of continued revitalization."
Dignitaries gathering for the Broadway ceremonies include, from left, South End CDC's Chris Girard, MDOT's Bill Schreck, WSGW Radio's Bill Hewitt, State Rep. Joseph Rivet and Jim Lewis, representing U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint.
Chris Girard, chair of the South End Citizens District Council, noted the cooperation that produced a completed project involving lighting, pavement and brick enhancements "stands out in the South End community," putting the area "in the forefront of a city renaissance."
Below:(Left) Scott McKillop, city representative to the South End Citizens District Council, headed arrangements for the parade and festivities for the reopening of Broadway. (Right) Dr. Mary Boettger, retired school principal and chairperson of the Columbus Avenue Citizens District Council, discusses parade arrangements with Kevin Sprygada, city firefighter.
City Manager Robert Belleman warms up the crowd as a lineup of speakers awaits their turns in ceremonies at Broadway and 24th prior to the parade marking the reopening of reconstructed Broadway.
Boyd Boettger, retired city firefighter, chats with his firefighter son, Bill, manning a flashy bright red fire rescue rig that was in the parade on Broadway.
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