RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Eight Counties    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

June 5, 2023 

Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Eight Counties    

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin multiple road projects next week including improvements on M-40 in Allegan County, road and ramp improvements on I-496 in Ingham County, rebuilding sections of I-94 in Jackson County, bridge repair over I-94 in Macomb County, resurfacing work and other safety improvements to US-41/M-28 in Marquette County, bridge demolition over I-75 in Oakland County, resurfacing M-47 in Saginaw County, and rebuilding an intersection on M-136 in St. Clair County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 5,533 jobs.   

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to drive our economy forward and help Michiganders get around safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “Through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,400 bridges since I took office, supporting 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. Let’s roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done.”  

M-40 Road Improvements in Allegan County  

MDOT is investing approximately $3 million to improve M-40 (Lincoln Avenue) from 136th Avenue to 48th Street in the city of Hamilton.  The project also includes realigning the intersection at 48th Street, upgrading the traffic signal at 136th Avenue, adding a left-turn lane north of 136th Avenue, and drainage improvements. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 36 jobs. 

County:	Allegan
Highway:	M-40
Closest city:	Hamilton
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	October 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Lane closures and traffic shifts will be in effect on M-40.
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety and improve the ride quality.

Road and Ramp Improvements on I-496 in Ingham County

MDOT is closing the westbound I-496 ramp to Grand Avenue for truss work for about nine weeks. This work is part of a three-year, $80 million investment in I-496. Activity includes rebuilding the freeway and interchange ramps, plus operational improvements between the Lansing Road and M-99 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) interchanges, preventive maintenance on 17 bridges, and upgrades to the service drives from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the east. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,016 jobs.

"In the Capital City the wear on roads is directly related to our significant role in the state and must be maintained for Lansing to work," said state Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing). "Lansing hosts more than 100,000 residents thousands of Michiganders commuting to and from our region for employment. This summer, Michigan continues investment in our infrastructure with ongoing improvements to I-496 in the Lansing area. In no time we'll be back to full speed and with a smoother ride."

County:	Ingham
Highway:	I-496
Closest city:	Lansing
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Aug. 4, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	This work will require closing the westbound I-496 ramp to Grand Avenue. Motorists should expect delays.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-496, which is a significant local and national trade corridor.

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.

MDOT I-496

I-94 Ramp Rebuild in Jackson County  

MDOT will close the westbound I-94 exit ramp to Michigan Avenue in Jackson County beginning Monday.  This work is part of the $162 million I-94 Jackson project rebuilding nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion, and Parma in Jackson County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 2,057 jobs. 

County:	Jackson
Highway:	I-94
Closest city:	Parma   Jackson
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, June 23, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	The westbound I-94 exit ramp to Michigan Avenue will be closed to rebuild a portion of the ramp. Traffic will be detoured via the Concord Road exit ramp to North Concord Road to Michigan Avenue.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-94, which is a significant local and national trade corridor. Closing lanes during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists.

I-94 West Jackson MDOT

Bridge Repair Over I-94 in Macomb County

Beginning 5 a.m. Monday, June 5, 26 Mile Road will be closed over I-94 for approximately 15 days. This work will include guardrail replacement, deck patching and concrete curing, concrete surface coating, and other improvements. All entrance and exit ramps at I-94 and 26 Mile Road will remain open at this time. This work is part of a $32.5 million I-94 project from M-29 (23 Mile Road) to County Line Road, which includes bridge work at six locations, traffic signal upgrades, and partial ramp rebuilding at the I-94/M-19 and I-94/M-29 interchanges. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 393 jobs.

County:	Macomb
Highway:	I-94
Closest city:	Lenox Twp.
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Mid-June 2023
Traffic restrictions:	26 Mile Road will be closed over I-94 for approximately 15 days
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety and improve the ride quality.

US-41/M-28 Resurface and Safety Improvements in Marquette County 

MDOT is investing about $5.7 million in joint repairs, resurfacing and safety improvements on 6.2 miles of US-41/M-28 from Iroquois Drive to Brickyard Road in the city of Negaunee, Negaunee Township, and Marquette Township. Work includes asphalt resurfacing, full-depth joint repairs, and adding left -turn lanes. Highway crossovers will be reconfigured from the east intersection with Heritage Drive to the end of the grass median east of Pond Road. This will include building truck loons, areas of pavement outside of the normal traffic lanes to provide additional room for commercial vehicles to turn. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 69 jobs.  

“I am excited to see millions of dollars in state funding coming to the Central Upper Peninsula to support our infrastructure," said state Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette). "Improving our roads makes travel safer and ensures the availability of good-paying jobs. I will continue advocating for these critical investments that our communities need.”

County:	Marquette
Highway:	US-41/M-28
Closest city:	Negaunee, Marquette
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Late September 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Motorists should expect shoulder and single-lane closures. Some of the paving will take place at night to reduce traffic impacts. Individual crossovers will be closed for rebuilding, though alternating crossovers will be left open.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve safety by eliminating dual-direction crossovers, reducing conflict points and providing deceleration lanes.

Bridge demolition over I-75 in Oakland County   

Beginning 9 p.m. Friday, June 9, contract crews will be closing I-75 in each direction from US-24 to Saginaw Road for the demolition of the Davisburg Road bridge over I-75. All traffic will be detoured onto Dixie Highway. This work is part of the MDOT's $160 million investment to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,936 jobs. 

County:	Oakland
Highway:	I-75
Closest city:	Clarkston
Start date:	Friday, June 9, 2023
Estimated end date:	Monday, June 12, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Contract crews will be closing I-75 in each direction from US-24 to Saginaw Road for the demolition of the Davisburg Road bridge over I-75. All traffic will be detoured onto Dixie Highway.
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety and improve the ride quality.

MDOT Oakland

Resurfacing M-47 in Saginaw County

MDOT will invest $983,000 to resurface just more than 2.5 miles of M-47 from Garfield Road to south of Powley Drive in Tittabawassee Township. Work consists of hot-mix asphalt overlay on all lanes and shoulders. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 11 jobs.

County:	Saginaw
Highway:	M-47
Closest city:	Freeland
Start date:	Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, June 16, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	This work will be completed using lane closures and traffic shifts. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of M-47, extending the life of the roadway while design and funding efforts for a long-term replacement are established.

Intersection Rebuild on M-136 in St. Clair County

MDOT will invest $1.2 million to rebuild the M-136/North Road intersection in St. Clair County, including the addition of a roundabout. Work includes removing the existing traffic signals, installing new lighting and signs, completing drainage improvements, and the addition of new pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 15 jobs. 

County:	St. Clair
Highway:	M-136 North Road
Closest city:	Port Huron
Start date:	Monday, June 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	August 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Beginning June 5, crews will close North Road at M-136, detouring traffic via North River Road and North Vincent Road. Both directions of M-136 will be maintained during this time. This configuration is expected to be in place through early July. In early July, crews expect to detour both M-136 and North Road via North River Road and North Vincent Road. This configuration will remain in place until the project is complete and the roundabout opens to traffic.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the safety and operations of the intersection with the addition of a roundabout.

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges     

By the end of this construction season, Michigan will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads 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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