Midland development board approves $3.5M for Briarwood Avenue improvements

Members of the Midland Development Corporation board of directors approved an economic development agreement with the City of Midland at its monthly board meeting.

The agreement calls for the MDC to provide $3.5 million for infrastructure improvements on a 1.5-mile stretch of Briarwood Avenue between Avalon Drive and Trobaugh Boulevard. The funding is part of the MDC's commitment to dedicate 35% of its revenue to infrastructure projects.

The improvements include a traffic signal at Briarwood and Avalon, widening Briarwood from two lanes to four lanes, and related roadway improvements.

"The reason we talked to MDC is there is 850 acres of undeveloped property on Briarwood," Jose Ortiz, deputy city manager, told board members as he discussed the project.

Ortiz noted that the project totaled over $9 million with an additional $1.8 million in contingency funds. In addition to the MDC, Midland County is providing $2.5 million for the improvements.

Asked by MDC board member Elvie Brown what new businesses the community should be excited about, Ortiz replied that no specific businesses are coming to the acreage, though some are in the works. He said the completed improvements would encourage development.

The city posted on Facebook in April that road widening and drainage improvements on Briarwood from Avalon to State Highway 58 had begun and were expected to take 18 to 20 months.

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