The city of Flint is bricked and ready for the final leg of its Saginaw Street restoration, kicking off this coming Monday, March 11, sources say. After nearly a year of ongoing construction since its commencement in April 2023, this historic main thoroughfare is on course to reclaim its past charm, with an additional boost to its underlying utilities.
The project aims to upgrade Saginaw Street's crumbling infrastructure by overhauling its brick pavement, water mains, and sidewalks, while also ensuring ADA compliance. According to ABC12, the bricks that have borne the brunt of Flint's history for a century will be meticulously replaced, along with the installation of new ramps and concrete street crossings tailored for accessibility. Traffic alterations will reroute northbound vehicles at Second Street, and southbound at Kearsley Street, signaling a temporary reshuffle for residents and visitors alike.
Local vehicular access is expected to remain between Second and First Streets, however, the sections stretching from First Street to First Avenue, and Kearsley Street at Saginaw Street will be entirely closed starting late March or early April and persisting until the project’s completion in early August, as per WNEM. This grand-scale refurbishment is set to renew approximately 80-90% of the sidewalks along Saginaw Street and update all tree grates in the process.
Financial backing for the extensive reconstruction arrives via multiple avenues, including $2.3 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation and an extra $3.4 million from the City of Flint's Major Roads Fund. Meanwhile, the federal Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN Act) is forking over $2.8 million for the water main replacement, as detailed by the City of Flint. This hefty injection of cash is deemed necessary to propel Flint into the future while preserving the architectural story held within each brick and pavement stone.
The transformation also encompasses vital electrical and gas line upgrades, making for a safer, and more secure downtown Flint. Not only a facelift but an overhaul that aspires for a near-total reconstruction beneath the city's skin. To those businesses nestled along Saginaw Street, the city ensures access throughout the construction, a promise of progress with minimal interruption to the daily fount of commerce.
