A: The City’s last successful GO Bond, a $35 million Street Bond Referendum, was approved by voters in May 1990. It was used to pay for 10 road widening projects including Hudson Boulevard, Franklin Boulevard, New Hope Road and Union Road as well as other streets and sidewalks along many of the routes. Six intersections were also improved and seven streets constructed or realigned. More details on those projects are listed below:

Roadways widened:
1) Airline/Gaston Avenue from Chester Street to Franklin Boulevard – widened to three lanes.
2) East Franklin Boulevard from Wal-Mart to Bi-Lo – widened to six lanes.
3) Hoffman Road from Robinwood Road to Hudson Boulevard – widened to four lanes.
4) Marietta Street from Garrison to Franklin – widened to three lanes.
5) Neal Hawkins Road from Valleywood Drive to Union Road – widened to three lanes.
6) Redbud Drive from New Hope to City limits – widened to three lanes.
7) Robinwood Road from Union Road to New Hope Road – widened to three lanes.
8) Union Road from Rivermont Drive to Niblick Drive – widened to five lanes.
9) Union Road from Sixth Avenue to Fourth Avenue – widened to five lanes.

Intersections improved:
1) Bessemer City Road & Northwest Boulevard – north and eastbound approaches widened.
2) Franklin Boulevard and New Hope Road – southbound approach widened.
3) Linwood Road and Fifth Avenue – northbound approach widened.
4) New Hope Road and Robinwood Road – north and southbound approaches widened.
5) Second Avenue and Chestnut Street – east and westbound approaches widened.
6) York Road and Clyde Street – north and southbound approaches widened.

Street realignments/new construction:
1) Bessemer City Road and Crescent Lane – realigned with Arkray Street.
2) Broad Street and Davidson Avenue – realigned east and westbound approaches.
3) Chestnut Street from Garrison Boulevard to Long Avenue – new alignment constructed.
4) Efird Street from Neal Hawkins Road to North Dead End – two lanes constructed.
5) Garrison Boulevard and Chestnut Street – realigned at Fern Forest Drive.
6) Garrison Boulevard and Marietta Street – north and southbound approaches realigned.
7) Linwood and Myrtle School Roads – all four approaches widened.

A: Voters approved $35 million in the 1990 Street Bond Referendum and a 7-cent property tax increase to finance the debt service on the bonds. A property tax increase is not necessary to finance the debt service on the proposed 2010 bonds, if approved.