First segment of Kettering Gateway complete, Miller Road opens south of Court Street

From © The Flint Journal

by Khalil AlHajal

FLINT, Michigan — Officials celebrated the completion of a segment of the Kettering Gateway project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Miller Road and Court Street this morning.

U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint, Mayor Dayne Walling and officials from Kettering University, Wade-Tirm engineering and the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon as workers removed road blocks to open up Miller Road south of Court Street.

The road remains closed north of that intersection, with the rest of the project set to be completed within the next two weeks.

The $3 million project is meant to give drivers an easier way to get to the university from I-69, creating a route from the Hammerberg Road exit to Chevrolet Avenue through Miller.

"We have a new road open and soon we'll have a new direct route to the university," said Tim Herman, CEO of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The project was funded through federal stimulus money and an earmark secured by Kildee.

"Kettering is among the great research universities in the country and this will give people a way to get there more easily," Kildee said.

Walling said the project created over 100 jobs and will eliminate the need for an awkward set of turns en route to the university.

"Routes before brought you in through the back door," he said.

Another nearby stimulus project, the Kettering extension of the Flint River Trail, is set to be completed by Labor Day.

"The roads, the trails, the college campuses, downtown and the expressway are all being connected to make this a more livable area," Walling said.

Jason Kenyon, vice president of Wade Trim, said planning for the project began back in 1995, and stimulus money finally made it a reality.

He said the project is being finished well ahead of schedule. Initial plans projected completion in November or December.

"The Crim road race runs through here and it had to be done," he said, crediting contractor Zito Construction and teamwork with the city for the fast work.

"The way everyone worked together to get the job done at budget and ahead of schedule is really an amazing feat," he said.

"It's wonderful," said driver Kalien Stubbs, 21, after driving north on Miller up to Court.
"I've been wondering how long It would take them to open this up. It'll be much, much easier (to navigate the area)."

Another passerby wasn't as impressed.

Dan Parks said a partial completion is no reason to celebrate.

"It's done a day before the primary elections," said Parks about the ceremony and press conference officials held. "It is not a complete project. It's all politics... propaganda."

"I give them credit for (being ahead of schedule), but it still isn't done." said Parks, who lives nearby the intersection and was wearing a "Recall Walling" t-shirt.