Pearl Road Project Was On Time, Under Budget

The wrapped up on time and under budget, Mayor Tom Perciak said.

The city is paying the last few bills associated with the widening, which took Pearl from two lanes to five for most of the way from Shurmer to a point south of Drake.

"That road was completed as per budget," Perciak said.

The widening was needed for several reasons, the mayor said -- to improve traffic flow for residents and businesses, and to provide better access to .

The project has already paid off for retailers located on the newly widened section of Pearl, Councilman at large Joe MeMio said.

"It's a different world now for them," he said.

Next up: The city will try in 2012 to find funding to up Stoney Hill to county line at Boston Road.