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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

September 5, 2023  

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

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin multiple road repair projects this week including resurfacing I-94 Business Loop (BL) and M-63 IN Berrien County, resurfacing M-100 in Eaton County, and resurfacing M-25 in Huron County, resurfacing M-109 in Leelanau County, and extending the US-23 Flex Route in Livingston County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 2,085 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.”      

I-94 BL and M-63 Resurfacing in Berrien County

MDOT will invest $3.5 million to repave 6.5 miles of I-94 BL (Lakeshore Drive) from Glenlord Road to Central Avenue, and M-63 (Niles Road) from I-94 to Midway Avenue in St. Joseph, Shoreham, and St. Joseph Township. Work includes milling and asphalt resurfacing, drainage structure repairs, sidewalk and curb ramp upgrades, and pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 50 jobs. 

“I am thrilled to witness this substantial investment in our district's infrastructure,” said state Representative Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph). “The resurfacing of I-94 BL and M-63 is a vital step towards improving the safety and quality of our local roads. Moreover, it will generate valuable job opportunities for our community. This project is a significant stride in our ongoing efforts to rebuild and revitalize Berrien County, and I am proud to support it.”

County:	Berrien County
Highway:	I-94 BL and M-63
Closest city:	St. Joseph
Start date:	Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect lane closures and traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This work will extend the life of the roadway, provide a better ride quality for motorists, and upgrade sidewalk ramps.

M-100 Resurfacing in Eaton County

MDOT will begin nightly resurfacing on M-100 from Strange Highway to Willow Highway in Grand Ledge on Tuesday. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 11 jobs. 

“The resurfacing and painting of roads is vital to help keep up with infrastructure needs in our communities," said state Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “This project on M-100 near Grand Ledge will benefit all of us on our way to work or school, to arrive safely and swiftly where we need to go — and we thank all of those who are doing this important work and ask everyone to be patient during the process.”

“Resurfacing M-100 from Strange Highway to Willow Highway in Grand Ledge will not only support numerous good paying jobs but will also ensure a smoother and safer driving experience for all residents and commuters in the region,” said state Representative Witwer (D-Delta Twp).

County:	Eaton
Highway:	M-100
Closest city:	Grand Ledge
Start date:	Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Saturday, Sept. 10, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	8 p.m. - 6 a.m. nightly Sept. 7 and 8 Northbound M-100 will be detoured on eastbound St. Joseph Highway, northbound Nixon Road, and westbound M-43 (Saginaw Highway) via traffic regulators. Southbound M-100 traffic will be detoured on eastbound M-43 (Saginaw Highway), southbound Nixon Road, and westbound St. Joseph Highway via traffic regulators. 8 p.m. - 6 a.m. nightly Sept. 8 and 9 Northbound M-100 traffic will be detoured on westbound M-43 (Saginaw Highway) and eastbound Jefferson Street via traffic regulators. Southbound M-100 traffic will be detoured on westbound Jefferson Street and eastbound M-43 (Saginaw Highway) via traffic regulators. Alternate routes are advised.
Safety benefit:	This work will provide drivers with fresh pavement markings and a smoother, safer driving surface.

M-25 Resurfacing in Huron County

MDOT will resurface M-25 from south of Caseville to the north city limit. Work includes joint repairs, sidewalk ramp improvements, and resurfacing. This work is part of an overall $3.3 million investment to improve more than 10.5 miles of M-25 through Huron and Tuscola counties. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 47 jobs. 

County:	Huron
Highway:	M-25
Closest city:	Caseville
Start date:	Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	October 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Beginning Sept. 5, the contractor will complete joint repairs, followed by sidewalk ramp improvements compatible with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and resurfacing. This work is weather dependent and will be maintained with traffic regulators. Drivers are asked to use caution when approaching the work zone as crews will be working near traffic.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of the road and extend the life of the pavement.

Resurfacing M-109 in Leelanau County

MDOT will invest $1.4 million to resurface 11.5 miles of M-109 from the M-22 south junction to west of Forest Haven Drive, and M-22 from Ottawa Avenue to north of West MacFarlane Road in Leelanau County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 17 jobs.

“I am looking forward to improved driving conditions for 103rd constituents and visitors as we continue to fix the damn roads across the state, including here in northern Michigan,” said state Representative Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City). I’m committed to continuing to work on improving our infrastructure across the 103rd.”

County:	Leelanau
Highway:	M-22 and M-109
Closest city:	Empire and Glen Arbor
Start date:	Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Friday, October 27, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	Drivers should expect daytime lane closures and traffic regulators Monday through Friday each week.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve the driving surface of the road and extend the life of the roadway.

Extending the US-23 Flex Route in Livingston County

MDOT will be closing multiple ramps along US-23 in the Brighton area Tuesday, Sept. 5, during a stage shift on the Flex Route project:

The northbound US-23 ramp to eastbound I-96,

The eastbound/westbound Lee Road ramp to northbound US-23, and
The northbound US-23 ramp to Lee Road (remains closed until Sept. 19)
Northbound US-23 will have lane closed from Silver Lake Road to I-96 as well.

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 less than 7.5 miles of hot-mix asphalt rebuilding and improvements, shoulder widening, interchange reconfigurations, bridge replacement, and improvements 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. That work 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 and I-96
Closest city:	Brighton
Start date:	Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Estimated end date:	Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Traffic restrictions:	During the closure of the northbound US-23 ramp to eastbound I-96, traffic will be detoured via westbound I-96 and Spencer Road to eastbound I-96. During the intermittent closures of the eastbound and westbound Lee Road ramp to northbound US-23, traffic will be detoured via southbound US-23 and Silver Lake Road to northbound US-23. This work will also require closing one lane on northbound US-23 from Silver Lake Road to I-96. 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.

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.   

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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