MANISTEE, Mich. — The City of Manistee is preparing to break ground on a major infrastructure project along Washington Street this August, a long-anticipated upgrade that will modernize essential utility services and improve traffic conditions in one of the city’s busiest corridors.

At its June 3 regular meeting, the Manistee City Council voted to approve a resolution and contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), officially securing $385,000 in funding from the state’s Small Urban Program. That grant, combined with a $1.2 million local match already included in the city’s capital improvement plan, brings the total project investment to more than $1.6 million.

The project will span Washington Street from Fifth Avenue to Veterans Oak Grove Drive, and will include water main and service upgrades, milling of the current asphalt surface, and resurfacing with new hot mix asphalt. Intersection improvements are also planned to enhance safety for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Project Timeline and Bidding

Manistee Public Works Director Jeff Mikula said the city initially hoped to complete the project this spring, but unforeseen delays during the state review process shifted the timeline.

“We had intended to have this completed within the next few weeks and build it during the spring. However, going through the state processes and some of the reviews just drew it way out,” Mikula explained.

Despite the delay, Mikula said the city is optimistic about moving forward quickly.

“So MDOT's actually bidding this through their monthly state bidding process,” he said. “... so we'll get bids on it Friday. Hopefully we'll get good bids and the state will be able to award that.”

Construction is now scheduled to begin in August and should be completed by October, assuming favorable weather conditions and a smooth bidding process.

Long-Term Planning and Funding Strategy

The Washington Street upgrades are part of a larger infrastructure renewal strategy that the city has been implementing over the past several years. Manistee has taken advantage of the state’s Small Urban Program to secure external funding for eligible roads every four years.

“The Small Urban process gives us the ability to apply for that money every four years,” Mikula said. “So four years in advance we try to pick out a major street that’s eligible. … The last one we did was 12th Street from Maple Street to U.S. 31.”

City leaders say investing in infrastructure now will pay dividends in the future by reducing maintenance costs, improving water reliability, and enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Community Support and Council Participation

Mayor Jermaine Sullivan and Council Members Kay Keck and Jim Grabowski were present during the June 3 council meeting where the project contract was approved. City officials noted the importance of transparency and planning when undertaking a major capital project and emphasized the collaborative effort between local government and state partners.

The project also aligns with Manistee’s broader water capital improvement plan and transportation improvement plan, which aim to modernize aging infrastructure, improve roadway conditions, and promote economic development in the city.

Originally reported by Kyle kotecki in Mainsteenews.