Millville to seek state funding for Broad/Bridal Street reconstruction and signal upgrades

Mayor Dixon described a long-running Broad Street (Bridal/Broad Street) reconstruction effort and said the city would apply for two pieces of funding: an engineering appropriation and a larger construction appropriation of $3,000,000 for repaving, geometric fixes and replacement/synchronization of traffic signals. "It's gonna actually replace the lights as well, and it's gonna synchronize them to make, hopefully make Broad Street a little more easily traveled," the mayor said.

The mayor characterized the funding approach as multi-source: an engineering grant/appropriation (the transcript reads "7, 17,000" for engineering costs; the number was not clearly enunciated in the record) plus a $3,000,000 appropriation to be sought through infrastructure funds and federal CMAQ monies for the construction. He emphasized the intent that the work not be paid directly by local taxpayers.

Commissioners noted the project dates back to 2016; staff indicated coordination with county and prior county actions that left the city to restart the project work. The scope discussed included roadway repaving, curve corrections and signal modernization to reduce travel time across the corridor.

Next steps: the commission will authorize submission of the DOT grant application and pursue required engineering and construction funding; specific contract and award steps will follow if grants are approved.