PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Wednesday, the City of Portage announced that its recent Zylman Avenue Reconstruction Project, between Portage
Road and South Sprinkle Road, was awarded the 2021 Michigan American Public Works Association (APWA) Public Works Project of the Year for Transportation Projects $1 Million to $5 Million.
The project involved a new boulevard roadway with a roundabout at Cox’s Drive and storm water management improvements, along with the installation of curb and gutter from Cox’s Drive to South Sprinkle Road.
The project also included replacement of water main and sanitary sewer force main and rehabilitation of sanitary manholes.
To facilitate nearby commercial uses and improve the development potential along the corridor, planning with the Local Development Finance Authority for the Zylman Avenue Improvement Project began in 2003.
Officials say this early planning and preliminary budgeting aided in the project receiving $1.8 million in Supplemental Community Infrastructure Investment from the State of Michigan.
The Michigan APWA has submitted this project to the APWA National office for competition at that level. The APWA supports those who operate, improve and maintain public works and infrastructure through advocacy, education & member engagement.
The APWA Awards Program recognizes outstanding individuals, groups and APWA chapters representing the best in public works.
See below for photos.
Zylman Avenue at Cox’s Drive looking east, before and after. (Photo courtesy of City of Portage).
Roundabout at Zylman Avenue and Cox’s Drive in Portage. (Photo courtesy of the City of Portage).
The roundabout was a huge waste of taxpayers money and deserves no award. This was an opportunity to ease some of the traffic on Centre, Portage and Sprinkle Roads and instead they created a hinderance making people choose to further conjest those other roads.