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

June 12, 2023

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

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin multiple road and bridge repair projects next week including repaving work on M-227 and rebuilding a ramp on the I-94/I-69 interchange in Calhoun County, resurfacing and other improvement work on M-50 in Jackson County, resurfacing work on M-123 in Luce County, repairs and upgrades to the US-31 bascule bridge over the Manistee River in Manistee County, and chipsealing on M-88 in Antrim County, M-93 in Crawford County, and M-18 in Roscommon and Crawford counties. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 2,876 jobs.   

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to drive economic activity, help Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands 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.”   

Chipsealing Project in Antrim, Crawford, and Roscommon Counties

MDOT will invest $1.9 million to chipseal nearly 23 miles of three highways in the northern Lower Peninsula:

M-88 from Fourth Street to Park Street and from Ellsworth Road to US-31 in Antrim County.
M-93 from Military Road to M-72 in Crawford County.
M-18 from Flooter Road to M-72 in Roscommon and Crawford counties

Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 23 jobs.

Counties:	Antrim, Crawford and Roscommon
Highways:	M-88, M-93 and M-18
Closest cities:	Central Lake, Bellaire, Grayling
Start date:	Monday, June 12, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Aug. 18, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of the road and extend the life of the roadway.

M-227 Resurfacing in Calhoun County 

MDOT will invest $631,000 to repave 2.7 miles of M-227 (17 Mile Road) from Woolley Drive to F Drive South in Fredonia Township, south of Marshall. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support eight jobs.  

County:	Calhoun
Highway:	M-227
Closest city:	Marshall
Start date:	Monday, June 12, 2023
Estimated end date:	Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of the road and extend the life of the roadway.

Next Phase of Work on Rebuilding I-69 in Calhoun County

Starting Thursday, June 15, MDOT will close two ramps at the I-94/I-69 interchange. The eastbound I-94 ramp to northbound I-69 and the southbound I-69 ramp to eastbound I-94 in Marshall will be closed while crews rebuild the ramps as part of the 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 nearly 2,667 jobs.

County:	Calhoun
Highway:	I-69
Closest city:	Marshall
Start date:	Thursday, June 15, 2023
Estimated end date:	Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Both the eastbound I-94 ramp to northbound I-69 and the southbound 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.

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

M-50 Resurfacing and Improvement Work in Jackson County 

MDOT will begin resurfacing and improvement work on M-50 from Valley Farm Road to Lincoln Road in Jackson. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 10 jobs. 

"I am excited to see that this work is coming to fruition and that it will create smoother and safer shoulders for our commuters along M-50," said state Senator Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp). 

County:	Jackson
Highway:	M-50
Closest city:	Jackson
Start date:	Monday, June 12, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Aug. 18, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	One lane will be maintained on M-50 at all times utilizing traffic regulators. Work will occur during daylight hours.
Safety benefit:	These repairs will result in smoother and safer shoulders along the roadway. Closing lanes during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists.

M-23 Resurfacing Project in Luce County

MDOT is investing about $1.3 million to resurface about seven miles of M-123 from north of Murphy Creek to County Road 500 in Luce County. Work includes shoulder aggregate, centerline rumble strips and pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 16 jobs.

County:	Luce
Highway:	M-123
Closest cities:	Newberry, Paradise
Start date:	Monday, June 12, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Aug. 18, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Motorists should expect one lane of alternating traffic using traffic regulators. A lane width restriction of 11 feet will be in place during the project.
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety for motorists and extend the lifespan of the roadway.

Bridge Repair on US-31 in Manistee County 

MDOT will invest $12.6 million to make repairs and upgrades to the US-31 bascule bridge over the Manistee River in Manistee County. The project will include replacing portions of the bridge deck, upgrading the bridge’s mechanical and electrical systems, painting the bridge’s structural steel, and improving the bridge approaches. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 152 jobs. 

County:	Manistee
Highway:	US-31
Closest city:	Manistee
Start date:	Thursday, June 15, 2023
Estimated end date:	Late April 2024
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic shifts when work begins June 15. Future traffic restrictions will include:      US-31 traffic will be closed and detoured July 10 to Sept. 15, 2023, and Jan. 2 to March 25, 2024. Northbound US-31 traffic will detour on 1st Street, Maple Street, and Memorial Drive; southbound US-31 will detour on Monroe Street, Maple Street, and 1st Street. Truck traffic will detour on M-55 and Stronach Road.   Lane closures with traffic shifts will resume from Sept. 15 to Oct. 30, 2023.  Marine traffic will be closed Dec. 1, 2023, to March 25, 2024.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of the bridge, improve reliability of the bridge’s operation, and extend the life of the structure.

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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