Local dignataries cut a ribbon officially opening the stretch of freshly paved Huron River Drive between the railroad tracks and Tubbs Road on Thursday afternoon, much to the delight of avid cyclists, including Debbie and Ted Green (second and third from left) who helped spearhead the repaving project.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

A fundraising effort by area cyclists and residents to raise $30,000 to help repave a portion of Huron River Drive in Ann Arbor exceeded its goal, bringing in more than $45,000 in donations.

Ted Green, CEO of Greenview Data Inc. and a member of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, said he and others involved were pleasantly surprised by their success. The money raised by the community helped fund the repaving of a portion of Huron River Drive — a popular, scenic route among area cyclists deemed too dangerous to ride by some due to potholes and rough patches.

To celebrate the work done, the Washtenaw County Road Commission held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday on Huron River Drive near Tubbs Road.

"The Road Commission double matched our $45,000, and the Parks and Recreation Department kicked in another $50,000 for bike lanes," Green said. "In the end, it's $185,000 (worth) of repaving that would not have happened otherwise."

Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.