HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is awarding a state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category F grant of $375,000 to the Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) to improve 68th Avenue from M-45 to the Grand River.
“Fixing Michigan’s roads will help us keep families safe, attract businesses, and grow our economy,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “I’m proud that we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work in Ottawa County, and I will continue working hard to ensure every Michigander can drive to work and drop their kids at school safely, without blowing a tire or cracking a windshield.”
68th Avenue is a heavily used north-south commercial route between M-45 and I-96 in Ottawa County’s Allendale Township. It includes one of the few crossings over the Grand River between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan and serves as an emergency route for US-31 and M-231. Substantial commercial and industrial traffic have contributed to the deterioration of the road and the pavement surface is in poor condition. To maintain the road’s all-season capability, OCRC will resurface 68th Avenue from M-45 to the Grand River.
The total cost of construction is $1,021,847, including $375,000 in Category F funds and $646,847 from OCRC.
Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the TEDF helps finance highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers. TEDF “Category F” or “Urban Areas in Rural Counties” grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that create system continuity with the secondary all-season road system.
Category F grants provide funding for projects that include improving access to the state all-season system or improving safety and all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic. Eligible road agencies include county road commissions, cities and villages.
