Broadway Street in Niles is set to receive major improvements this spring.

On Monday, the Niles City Council approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for a $138,000 project to improve Broadway Street from Fifth to 10th Streets.

The project is schedule to begin at the end of April and last for a few weeks with minor disruptions to traffic.

The project includes cold-milling pavement, construction of asphalt curbs and handicapped ramps, storm water drainage improvements and resurfacing.

Public works director Joe Ray said he doesn’t expect sidewalk work to disrupt traffic. However, Broadway will be reduced to one lane with a flagger directing traffic during the milling and paving process.

“It really is only going to affect traffic for two days,” Ray said.

Broadway is part of the city’s major street system, making it eligible for federal funding, Ray explained

He said the federal government would pay for 82 percent of the project cost, leaving Niles responsible for the remainder of the cost, about $25,000.

The project was submitted to the department of transportation in 2011. Ray said transportation improvements are planned out five to seven years in advance.

“We try to judge which roads will deteriorate at a certain rate to determine which ones need treatment first,” he said.

Also Monday:

• The council approved the America Legion Post 26 to hold the annual Memorial Day Parade from 10 to 11:15 a.m. May 25 in downtown Niles.

• Swore in Adam Ashley as a new officer to the Niles Police Department. Ashley was previously an officer in Little Rock, Arkansas.