DETROIT, MI — The City of Detroit has begun its first road improvement program in the era of COVID-19, with plans to repave 93 miles of major roads and residential side streets, all under strict work safety rules announced by Mayor Mike Duggan.

This year, city workers and contracted work crews will resurface 44 miles of major thoroughfares and 49 miles of local roads, while one city bridge will be rehabilitated. Work this year also will include construction on five separate streetscape projects that have been designed to beautify and enhance those commercial corridors.

In all cases, safe workplace protocols have been put in place to ensure that the safety of city and contracted employees and the public is maintained. All road construction workers on these projects will: have taken and passed a COVID-19 test, wear face masks and social distance when on the worksite, and have their temperatures taken daily and be screened for symptoms of the coronavirus.

“This is part of how we are reopening as a city,” Mayor Duggan said. “We already know that our police officers, firefighters, medics, and bus drivers have a lower COVID-19 infection rate than individuals remaining largely at home. We have demonstrated that we can continue the important work of city government and keep employee safe by using our strict medical protocols.”

All work sites will be regularly monitored by Department of Public Works (DPW) supervision to ensure all employees have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform their jobs safely, efficiently, and in compliance with the city’s new safe workplace protocols.

The city will also continue its practice of requiring the majority of work on construction projects be performed by Detroit residents. While residential street resurfacing is done by city workers, the paving of major thoroughfares is performed by contractors that are required to have at least 51 percent of all work done by Detroit residents. Last year, contracted city road construction projects overall achieved 51.1 percent.

“This administration remains committed to providing jobs for Detroit residents. These road construction contracts will create additional opportunities for our citizens, while providing needed repairs to our infrastructure,” said DPW Director Ron Brundidge.

Some of the major thoroughfares planned for improvements this year include segments of Conner, Wyoming, E. Lafayette, Hubbell, Burt, and Joy Road. Work is already underway on some projects and, weather permitting, the construction season will continue through December.

In addition to the resurfacing of 93 miles of roads, the city will revitalize five commercial corridors this year, which in most cases will include the addition of new wider sidewalks for café seating, landscaping, improved lighting, separated bike paths, as well as the roadway receiving new pavement. Those locations are:

• Kercheval, from E. Grand Boulevard to Parker
• McNichols, from Greenlawn to Livernois
• Conant, from Davison to Carpenter
• Rosa Parks, from Clairmount to W. Grand Boulevard
• Grand Parklet, Corner of Puritan/Plainview/Grand River

“The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in this year’s roads program being one of the most important in recent years,” Brundidge said. "Needed improvements will be made to the infrastructure, while the return of employees to work will have a positive impact on the economy, and work in a safe manner that shows that steps continue to be taken to return to a sense of pre-COVID normalcy."

Funding for these projects will come from a combination of federal and state transportation funds, as well as road bond funds approved in 2017.