Kentwood · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kentwood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Coral Valley cul-de-sac improvements
The city is finally fulfilling decades-old promises to add landscape separation and berms between the Coral Valley neighborhood and 29th Street, and improving the cul-de-sac.
48th Street reconstruction (Division to Eastern)
48th Street gets a mill-and-pave rebuild with new curbs added on the half-mile that lacks them, costing the city about $1.142 million after grant funding.
Street sweeping and MS-4 compliance
A $370,809 sweeper replaces the aging unit; owning the sweeper saves the city big versus the county's rate of $173,000 per year to sweep all streets twice annually.
44th Street reconstruction (Eastern to Kalamazoo)
The failing white-topped stretch of 44th Street will get a full rebuild next spring, with a $1.785 million grant covering most of the $3.07 million cost. Until then, the city plans hot emulsion patching and gap mastic to hold the road together through winter.
Road condition ratings improve
The city's transportation asset plan shows Kentwood's average road rating rose from 5.9 to 6.1, above the regional average of 5.76 — good news for future paving priorities and Act 51 funding flexibility.
Storm sewer repair billed to fiber company
A fiber installer dug through a city storm sewer at East Paris and Stahl Drive at the wrong depth, so the city is hiring Quantum Construction for a $45,980 repair and sending the bill to 123.Net — with permit leverage if they don't pay.
44th Street white topping failure
The experimental concrete white-topping on 44th Street is breaking apart and damaged cars this spring. The mayor warns February through April could be rough before a federally funded rebuild next year, with one-way traffic and detours during construction.
Extensive 2027 road construction season
Next year will bring major closures: the Beltline bridge at 32nd Street removed, the Beltline at I-96 shut down with no detours, plus MDOT work on 28th and 48th Streets and Eastern Avenue. Plan for longer commutes.
Paul Henry Trail repaving after contractor defects
The trail's new pavement cracked because the contractor's equipment broke tree branches that ended up in the asphalt mix. The city withheld payment and is having the top course milled and repaved, starting next week, from roughly Stoffer to Wing and other select areas.
Road salt supply for 2026-27 winter
The city locked in up to 4,550 tons of salt for winter road clearing at up to $356,766 from street funds.
State transportation funding shortchanges cities and transit
Rapid board member Jack Hoffman argued the state budget gives rural roads $444 per capita versus $195 for cities and just $27 for public transit, and urged support for House Bill 4210 to direct sales tax on transportation products to transit.
DPW parking lot repaving
A year of heavy construction traffic at the DPW campus wore out a 20-year-old parking lot, so the city is spending up to $355,438 to repave it with a heavy-duty base rated for 15-20 years.
29th Street and East Paris sidewalk extension
For years residents have asked why there's no sidewalk connecting 29th Street to East Paris. A road project nearby gave the city its opening, and the vet clinic on the corner agreed to an easement where pedestrians currently cut across its lawn.
Sidewalk repair and fill-in services
The city awarded a sidewalk repair contract to Ellis McClain Construction through direct negotiation because no bids came in — fixing sidewalks around town.
Right-turn-only sign on Patterson Avenue
A new traffic control order puts a right-turn-only restriction on Patterson Avenue, adopted quietly through the consent agenda.
Shaffer Avenue/36th Street traffic circle and summer detours
A roundabout is coming to Shaffer and 36th this summer, and the roads will be closed to through traffic from June through August. Local access stays open, but commuters and businesses should plan for detours — and two election precincts at Covenant Park and African Community Fellowship Church will be affected during the August election.