RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with New Projects This Week in Eight Counties 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

May 1, 2023 

Gov. Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with New Projects This Week in Eight Counties 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will launch multiple road and bridge repair projects this week including US-12 resurfacing in Branch County, rebuilding the northbound I-69 ramp to eastbound I-94 in Calhoun County, M-15 resurfacing in Genesee County, US-131 rebuilding and repaving and M-96 repaving in Kalamazoo County, building a Flex Route on US-23 in Livingston County, M-50 resurfacing in Lenawee County, M-25 bridge repairs in Sanilac County and M-29 resurfacing in St. Clair County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 5,302 jobs.   

“We are fixing the damn roads across the state to drive economic activity and help Michiganders get to where they need to go safely and smoothly,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of road and more than 1,400 bridges, supporting tens of thousands of construction jobs without raising taxes by a dime. Today’s projects across eight counties will support 5,302 jobs and make a real difference in people’s lives. Let’s roll up our sleeves and move some dirt.”   

US-12 Resurfacing and Bridge Repairs in Branch County 

MDOT will invest $2.4 million to resurface three-quarters of a mile of US-12 between the Coldwater River and Western/Butters Avenue in Coldwater. Work includes approach and bridge repairs over the Coldwater River, as well as milling and resurfacing, joint repairs, guardrail, and concrete sidewalk improvements. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 29 jobs.   

County:	Branch
Highway:	US-12
Closest city:	Coldwater
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures on US-12. There will be a temporary signal at the Coldwater Bridge from late May through mid-August during bridge repairs.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface and extend the life of the roadway and bridge.

Northbound I-69 Ramp Rebuild in Calhoun County   

The northbound I-69 ramp to eastbound I-94 in Marshall will close Monday as crews rebuild the ramp as part of MDOT’s three-year, $210 million project to rebuild I-69 between Island Highway in Charlotte, Eaton County, and I-94 in Marshall, Calhoun County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 2,667 jobs.  

Funding for this project is made possible by Governor Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state's economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state's infrastructure.  

County:	Calhoun
Highway:	I-69 and I-94
Closest city:	Marshall
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Sunday, June 4, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	The northbound I-69 ramp to eastbound I-94 will be closed and detoured for the duration of this work. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-69, which is a significant local and national trade corridor.

MDOT project

M-15 Resurfacing in Genesee County   

MDOT will invest $11.3 million to resurface nearly 7 miles of M-15 in Genesee County. Work includes intersection improvements and widening of the roadway to accommodate a center turn lane from Potter Road to Richfield Road. Crews will also replace the culvert at Bird Drain and make grade changes to improve the site distance at M-15 north of Coldwater Road. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 137 jobs.  

County:	Genesee
Highway:	M-15
Closest city:	Davison
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	September 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic shifts during work. A 30-day detour will be required to accommodate the culvert replacement at Bird Drain and the grading improvements at Coldwater Road. Dates for that closure will be announced in advance of their start and will not occur before June 1.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the safety and operations of the roadway and provide a smoother driving surface, extending the life of the road.

US 131 Rebuilding in Kalamazoo County   

MDOT is starting work May 1 to rebuild and repave 13.4 miles of US-131 from the Rocky River in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, to Shaver Road in Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County. The two-year, $51 million investment will start this year at the Rocky River and go to just north of XY Avenue. Work in 2024 will pick up at XY Avenue and continue north to Shaver Road.    

“I am pleased to join with MDOT in announcing the initiation of two road projects in the 19th District.” said state Senator Sean McCann (D–Kalamazoo). “With all of the economic expansion in Kalamazoo County, having a top-level transportation network is of paramount importance. The two new projects, a $51 million dollar rebuild of portions of U.S. 131 and $1.1 million repaving of M-96 will allow a better, safer driving experience and help spur economic development. These are just two examples of the road improvements made possible by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program.”  

Work in 2023 includes repaving US-131, joint repairs, improving drainage, and rebuilding all intersections in the project area as indirect left turns, or “Michigan Lefts.” The existing crossovers at intersections will be removed, and new temporary crossovers will be built for the project. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 448 jobs.  

County:	Kalamazoo
Highway:	US-131
Closest city:	Schoolcraft  Three Rivers
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, November 10, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	While traffic will be maintained in each direction throughout the project, motorists should anticipate delays and seek an alternative route. There will be a two-week closure in 2024 to rebuild the Grand Trunk Western Railroad crossing.
Safety benefit:	This project will provide much needed improvements to the roadway as well as redesign intersections, improving safety.

MDOT project

M-96 Repaving in Kalamazoo County   

MDOT will invest $1.1 million to repave four miles of M-96 from Burgess Drive in Galesburg to East G Avenue in Augusta. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 13 jobs.  

County:	Kalamazoo
Highway:	M-96
Closest city:	Galesburg and Augusta
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, May 19, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This work will result in a smoother driving surface of the road, increasing safety and extending the life of the roadway.

US-23 Flex Route in Livingston County

This work is part of MDOT's ongoing $162 million investment to extend the US-23 Flex Route from north of 8 Mile Road to I-96. The project consists of just under 7.5 miles of hot mix asphalt reconstruction and rehabilitation, shoulder widening, interchange reconfigurations, bridge replacement, and rehabilitation at nine structures. The US-23 Flex Route Phase 2 extension focuses on traffic safety, operations, infrastructure condition, and the directional peak period congestion along the US-23 corridor.

MDOT built the first Flex Route on US-23 between M-14 and 8 Mile Road in 2016 and 2017. The US-23 Flex Route project involved installing an active traffic management (ATM) lane with other safety improvements, as well as operational improvements and addressing condition needs. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,960 jobs.

County:	Livingston
Highway:	US-23 I-96 M-36
Closest city:	Brighton
Start date:	Friday, April 28, 2023
Estimated end date:	Monday, May 8, 2023 Overall project completion date: Jan. 2026
Traffic restrictions:	This project will require a single-lane closure on northbound US-23 between M-36 (9 Mile Road) and I-96 from Friday at 9 p.m. until Monday at 6 a.m. This project will require a single-lane closure on southbound US-23 between M-36 (9 Mile Road) and I-96 daily Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. There will be intermittent closures at the I-96, Lee Road, Silver Lake Road, and M-36 interchanges daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday-Friday. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of US-23, which is a significant state, national, and international trade corridor.

MDOT project

M-50 Resurfacing in Lenawee County   

MDOT is investing approximately $1 million for resurfacing and improvements of M-50 from Valley Farm Road to Lincoln Road. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 13 jobs.  

County:	Lenawee
Highway:	M-50 (Monroe Road)
Closest city:	Tecumseh  Dundee
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, June 26, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Two-way traffic will be maintained on M-50 at all times utilizing traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This project will improve the ride quality and extend the service life of the roadway.

M-25 Bridge Repairs in Sanilac County   

MDOT will invest $950,000 in bridge improvements to the M-25 bridge over Forester Creek in Sanilac County. Work includes repairs to the bridge, drainage improvements and culvert replacements, concrete curb and gutter, guardrail, and repairs to the bridge approach. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 12 jobs. 

County:	Sanilac
Highway:	M-25
Closest city:	Port Sanilac  Deckerville  Carsonville
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Saturday, July 15, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	One lane of alternating traffic will be maintained with temporary signals.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the safety and operations of the bridge, while extending the life of the structure.

M-29 Resurfacing in St. Clair County  

MDOT will invest $1.9 million to resurface more than five miles of M-29 from Yankee Road to River Road, and from the north city limits of Marine City to Remer Road in St. Clair County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 23 jobs.  

County:	St. Clair
Highway:	M-29
Closest city:	Marine City  St. Clair
Start date:	Monday, May 1, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, June 30, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	All work will be completed with lane closures and traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the safety and operations of the roadway while extending the life of the pavement.

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges     

By the end of this construction season, Michigan will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges. Governor Whitmer is focused on rebuilding our roads and bridges with the right mix and materials, so they stay fixed, supporting 89,000 good-paying construction jobs along the way.   

These and future repairs are made possible by the Rebuilding Michigan plan, a five-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, the largest one-time investment in Michigan's infrastructure in state history. These strategic investments in Michigan's infrastructure ensure that future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to run errands, travel, and strengthen the economy.    

Learn more about the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s historic infrastructure investments by clicking on the following link: Infrastructure Accomplishments.    

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