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Madison Heights staff outline R4 millage to fund neighborhood road reconstruction
Summary
City engineers and staff described the PASER-based selection process for R4, estimated full reconstruction costs of about $600–$620 per foot, coordination with utilities to avoid repeat digs, and a projected 2028 start for R4 work if voters approve the millage.
At a city information session, Madison Heights staff explained the proposed R4 millage and how it would be used to rebuild neighborhood streets that score poorly on PASER evaluations. City engineers said the proposal lists specific roads that would be completed if voters approve R4 and that crews will coordinate underground work to avoid repeated restorations.
The presentation, led by Brad Bickl (Brad Bickl, Newfan Engineers; identified in the session as the city engineer), described the PASER visual-rating process the city uses to evaluate every road segment. "A 10 is a brand new road. It immediately loses one mark just by being a year old," Bickl said, and staff said they rely on multiple certified raters to reduce subjectivity. Roads rated one through four are targeted for substantial work, but funding limits mean the city cross-references PASER with utility conditions to prioritize projects.
Staff said the city runs video inspections of sewers and reviews water-main records alongside PASER scores to avoid tearing up newly repaired streets. "One dig, one done," said Chris Woodward, describing the goal of sequencing utility, sewer and pavement work so restoration is performed once. Staff also said they coordinate annually with Consumers Energy and other utility providers so gas, water and sewer work happens before final pavement is placed.
On cost, presenters gave current estimates for full reconstruction—pavement removal, base and drainage work, possible sewer and water-main replacement—of roughly $600 to $620 per foot, up from about $400 per foot a decade ago. Staff said budgets include an inflation factor (about 3% per year on average) to protect against rising prices. A city staff member explained the financing rationale: a millage lets 100% of voter dollars go to neighborhood roads, whereas municipal bonding carries interest and management fees. As an illustrative comparison, the staff member said a hypothetical $26 million, 15-year bond could cost about $2 million annually in debt service and roughly $6.7 million in interest over the life of the bond.
Officials emphasized the millage targets local neighborhood streets — not major arterials that receive state or federal gas-tax and federal aid — and described a map showing priorities: blue for roads done in the last 30 years, red for roads proposed under R4, orange for sectional repairs, and yellow for previously redone roads that deteriorated sooner than expected. The staff presentation noted R3 work remains underway, that some subdivisions will see construction as soon as 2027, and that Year 1 of R4 is scheduled for 2028 if voters approve the proposal.
During Q&A residents asked how to view the PASER map and project list; staff said information is or will be available on the city's R4 webpage (madisonmi.gov/r4) and in mailed materials. Presenters invited further questions and encouraged residents to contact the city manager, public services and engineering staff for details.
The session closed after residents asked clarifying questions about map colors, selected streets and timing. If voters approve R4, city staff said the named roads in the proposal will be scheduled for reconstruction according to the R4 phasing described at the meeting.
