Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — The City of Jackson has received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support major street improvements on the city’s east side. The funding will go toward the East Side Commercial Corridor Improvement Project, which includes reconstruction and resurfacing work along several key roadways.

The project will involve a full reconstruction of E. Washington Avenue between Cooper Street and S. Elm Avenue. This stretch runs through an industrial zone and serves as a key connector between east side neighborhoods and Downtown Jackson. Officials have noted its deteriorating condition, marked by potholes and uneven pavement.

Additionally, a one-block segment of S. Elm Avenue, from E. Washington Avenue to Page Avenue, will also be fully reconstructed. Page Avenue, which links east side neighborhoods to U.S. 127 and nearby township areas, will be resurfaced from S. Elm Avenue to Ann Street at the city limits. The street is a mix of commercial and residential use.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $10 million, with the remaining $6 million to be funded by the City of Jackson.

City officials say the improvements align with broader efforts to support redevelopment and economic growth on the east side. Similar infrastructure investments have been made in other parts of the city, including W. Michigan Avenue and the ongoing work on S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

“This construction is laying the groundwork for more good things to come,” said Mayor Daniel Mahoney, who expressed appreciation for city staff involved in securing the grant. “It will benefit not just east side residents and businesses, but the entire Jackson community.”

The City Council is expected to consider an engineering contract to begin project planning at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13. Lead service line replacements are expected to begin in 2026, with road construction taking place in phases during the 2027 and 2028 construction seasons.