As the 2025 road construction season comes to a close, the Shelby community has seen much progress made in improving the quality and durability of the local roads. Over the past two years, coordinated efforts between Shelby Township, the Oceana County Road Commission, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Village of Shelby have resulted in transformative infrastructure upgrades that enhance safety, mobility, and overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Within the village limits, Shelby maintains approximately 14 miles of roadway, including six miles of "Major Streets," such as State, Sixth, Ferry and First, and eight miles of "Local Streets," including Cherry, Runner, Aspen Hill and Elliott. These classifications are important, as Major and Local Streets are funded through different sources and require distinct maintenance strategies.
Between 2024 and 2025, a total of 5.1 miles of road were rebuilt using "mill & fill" or "crush & shape" methods—2.9 miles in 2024 and 2.2 miles in 2025. Additionally, in 2025, five more miles of roadway received surface maintenance treatments such as chip seal, crack pour, Durapatching, and fog seal. In total, over 10 miles of road work have been completed in just two years, covering more than 70% of the village’s entire road network.
Mill & fill involves removing and replacing the top 1.5 inches of asphalt, offering a cost-effective way to extend the life of a road. Crush & shape is a more intensive process that removes the entire asphalt surface, reshapes the base, and lays a new 3–4 inch asphalt layer, resulting in a longer-lasting repair. Estimated costs for these methods range from $240,000 to $315,000 per mile for mill & fill and $370,000 to $500,000 per mile for crush & shape, depending on road width and depth.
Funding for these improvements comes from a combination of State of Michigan road funding and a local road millage of 4.1 mills. Annual budgets for road construction and maintenance are approximately $200,000 for Major Streets and $170,000 for Local Streets.
Looking ahead, Village Administrator Phil Morse stated, "We've made significant progress, but some streets remain in poor condition, and I assure residents that these areas have not been forgotten. Road projects are prioritized based on available funding, road condition assessments, and coordination with upcoming underground utility work such as water, sewer and storm drain systems. This strategic approach ensures that roads are not rebuilt only to be torn up again for utility repairs shortly thereafter."
The Village of Shelby thanks its residents for their continued patience and support.
