GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (February 11, 2014) — As streets around West Michigan become more narrow with no place to put the snow, one Grand Rapids neighborhood planned an emergency plowing.
With reports of over 60 broken side mirrors and streets too small to squeeze ambulance and fire trucks through, the city devoted Tuesday morning to clearing specific streets on the city’s southeast side.
Streets affected were Wealthy Street SE from Union Avenue to Fuller Avenue, Diamond Avenue SE from Wealthy Street to E. Fulton Street, Cherry Street SE from Union Avenue to Lake Drive, and Fairmount Street SE from Easter Avenue to Calkins Street.
“We’re a very walkable pedestrian friendly neighborhood and for a lot of people, just crossing the streets is dangerous,” said Rachel Lee of the East Hills Council of Neighbors.
But as crews cleared the streets of snow, piles were pushed up onto sidewalks and driveways.
“When they came by, I discovered about three feet of snow block our sidewalks and our door so its made it a bit tougher this morning to get in and out,” explained Andrea Bumstead, manager of Gaia Cafe.
But home and property owners say the work is worth is, if it makes their streets safer for drivers.
The East Hills neighborhood was so vocal in getting their streets cleared that their streets were done first. We’re told Grand Rapids is looking at doing other neighborhoods in the future.
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