Committee backs application for State Route 283 upgrades after scope grows to about $13 million

The committee approved Ordinance 10-82-2023 on Nov. 24, authorizing the director of capital projects to apply for DOPWIC (District 1 Public Works Integrated Committee) state funding for improvements on State Route 283, an unusual route configuration involving parts of 55th Street and St. Clair Avenue.

Staff said the base pavement project is about $8.5 million but that the scope has expanded to roughly $13 million after adding safety enhancements targeted at an area with a high crash rate. "The project has grown from about $8,500,000...to about $13,000,000, and a lot of that relates to safety enhancements," a department representative told the committee. Staff said they plan to layer safety grants and other state or federal grants on top of urban paving funds and use future bond or local-match funding as necessary.

Council members pressed staff on how the funding gap will be closed and whether changes to fund sources will require returning to council; staff said they will provide a final funding list and return with details as design progresses. The ordinance was approved.