MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — Sherman Boulevard is the main corridor through Muskegon Heights.
"We see 51,000 cars per day in that area....so it takes a huge beating," said Mayor Kim Sims. "We don't have a lot of financial resources to put into our infrastructure so this is a huge boost to us."
But that boost could have come sooner if it wasn't for a mistake in Lansing. That's why State Representative Terry Sabo is upset, because an error in the first bill caused the $3 million worth of funding for Muskegon Heights to be delayed for months. He blames a lame duck session that ran long.
"It's actually an embarrassment for our state government to operate that way," said Sabo.
Now the corrected bill would provide funding for road repairs, landscaping and the removal of blight through a six mile stretch of Sherman.
"We want to remove it from the east and west. I think removing blight is very important to us and the citizens," said Sabo.
Leaders also believe the new and improved Sherman corridor could attract new businesses to the area in 2020.
"We really want to make sure we are good stewards of the money and give our Muskegon Heights community something they can be proud of as we improve the quality of life here," said Sims.
The funding bill could be approved by the House within a week. Construction at Sherman Boulevard would then be finalized this fall and begin early next year.
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