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Seven years after initiating a formalized road maintenance/preservation program, the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) adopted a "Long-Range Strategic Investment Plan for Primary Roads" in 2006 in order to establish a vision for the primary road system that will guide investment decisions through 2016, according to Steven Warren, KCRC's deputy director.

"This comprehensive Asset Management Program helps to coordinate KCRC's major improvement projects with the development plans of townships, cities and villages within Kent County (which includes Grand Rapids, MI), as well as with improvement plans of adjoining county road commissions and the Michigan Department of Transportation," Warren states.

KCRC's long-range vision is to:

• Achieve 70 percent of the road system in "good" condition by 2016 through preservation and reconstruction activities,
• Maintain good bridge conditions through annual inspection and timely investment in repairs, and
• Expand roadway capacity to reduce congestion along several corridors and intersections to maintain safety and to accommodate the county's growing population and expanding economy.

KCRC's long-range plan calls for 50 to 60 miles of annual preventive maintenance improvements throughout the road network to help the agency achieve its "good" condition objective.

The KCRC's Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining all state highways in Kent County under a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation. The county's Maintenance Division is also responsible for maintaining all county primary roads, with major reconstruction, overlay and bridge replacement projects handled through the Road Commission's Engineering Division and contracted to private companies; and smaller projects executed by the Maintenance Division. The Maintenance Division is also responsible for maintaining all local roads throughout the county. In total, KCRC is responsible for maintaining a safe, efficient and convenient system of county roads, consisting of 1,968 miles that are classified as either primary or local roads. The Long-Range Strategic Investment Plan only covers the 645 miles of primary roads in Kent County.

These are the main routes of travel and are generally located outside the major cities, but do not include Interstate Freeways or State Highways. KCRC shares responsibility with townships for funding construction and maintenance activities of the 1,323 miles of designated local roads.