Citing the vital nature of the social and economic welfare of the county’s road network, the Van Buren County Road Commission has established a priority list of the projects that would take place yet this year if the residents of the county will approve a county-wide road millage on the March ballot.
On March 10th, 2020 the residents of Van Buren County will, once again, have the opportunity to vote on the county-wide road millage for four more years. Managing Director Dan Bishop says, “This millage will enable the Van Buren County Road Commission to continue to make annual improvements and upgrades to our county-wide road network,” and adds, “Our road network is vital to the social and economic welfare of the citizens of Van Buren County. Our economy is based heavily on agriculture, agri-business and tourism. In addition, thousands of children are transported daily over the countywide road network.”
Projects scheduled to take place in 2020 made possible through the use of County-Wide Road Millage Funds include the following projects:
- Reconstruction of Red Arrow Highway from 26th Street to 28th Street in Antwerp Township
- Reconstruction of CR653 from Red Arrow Highway to I-94
- Top course paving of CR380 from CR681 to the Village of Breedsville in Columbia Township
- Drainage work on CR380 from the Village of Breedsville to the Bloomingdale/Columbia Township line
- Tree removals along CR374 from Red Arrow Highway to 45th Street
- Rehabilitation work for the following bridge structures:
- 48th Avenue over the Paw Paw River, Arlington/Lawrence Townships
- 70th Street over the South Branch of the Black River, Geneva Township
- 70th Street over the Paw Paw River, Hartford Township
- 72nd Avenue over Brush Creek, Lawrence Township
- 5th Avenue over Mentha Drain, Pine Grove Township
- 71½ Street over the South Branch of the Black River, South Haven Township
- Red Arrow Highway over Pine Creek, Hartford Township
- Red Arrow Highway over Hog Creek, Hartford Township
- CR388 (Phoenix Road) over the South Branch of the Black River, Geneva Township
- CR653 (Almena Drive) over the East Branch of the Paw Paw River, Almena Township
- Approximately 60 miles of Primary Road sealcoat and 60 miles of Primary Road fog seal
- Mill and seal CR388 from Grand Junction to CR388 E in Columbia & Bloomingdale Townships
- Many other local road projects to be selected by each Township
Bishop says it is critical that residents understand that funds received through the county-wide road millage are spent directly to improve the road system in Van Buren County. Additionally, funds received through the county-wide road millage have not been used for snow plow operations, ice control operations, pothole repair, equipment purchases or repairs, fuel purchase, repair, replacement of upgrading of traffic signs or signals, operating costs, or the like, because those operations are funded by fuel tax and registration fees.
For more information to better assist in making an informed decision Bishop urges people to contact the Van Buren County Road Commission by phone at 269-674-8011, or by email at vbcrc@vbcrc.org.
