For the residents of Bronson, a small city with a rich history and many pre-1940 homes, aging infrastructure had become more than just a nuisance. Crumbling storm and sanitary sewer lines were causing sewage backups into homes and forcing road closures, particularly in the neighborhood south of US-12 on Ruggles and Compton Streets. Much of the city’s underground infrastructure was over six decades old, with some components, like the storm sewer system, exceeding 80 years.
In 2020, Bronson received a boost through Infrastructure & Resiliency funding from the MEDC CDBG program, securing $1.32 million toward an extensive infrastructure renewal project. The focus was on resolving drainage and reliability issues in a severely flat area where outdated clay pipes were cracked and frequently overwhelmed by storm events.
The improvements were extensive. Roadways were rebuilt at corrected elevations to improve drainage, and curbs were added to direct runoff effectively. Sidewalks were widened to five feet, and ADA ramps were upgraded at every intersection, making the neighborhood more walkable and inclusive. Beneath the surface, the original clay sanitary pipes were replaced with modern PVC, and the existing water main was upgraded to a more reliable, larger ductile iron pipe to support better water flow and fire protection. Compton received new storm infrastructure for the first time, and stormwater from Ruggles, Compton, and nearby Mowry Street was redirected to drain into US-12.
Residents of Bronson now benefit from safer streets, fewer backups, and a more resilient system that supports the city’s future.