FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

September 18, 2023 

Contact: [email protected]   

   

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 and bridge repair projects this week including resurfacing M-72 in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, road improvements to US-127 in Gratiot County, widening I-94 and bridge repair on I-94 in Jackson County, and repatching I-75 in Monroe County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 3,977 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.”  

  

M-72 Resurfacing Project in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties 

MDOT will invest $1.7 million to resurface 2.5 miles of M-72 from Bugai Road/Gray Road to Bay Street in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. The project also includes wider paved shoulders, guardrail upgrades, and drainage improvements. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 25 jobs. 

 

“Addressing our infrastructure needs so that constituents of the 103rd district can safely travel using our roads is an important priority for me as a legislator," said state Representative Besty Coffia (D-Traverse City). "I am proud to support continued investment in our communities for key road projects like this one, which provides crucial upgrades to our local infrastructure.” 

 

 

US-127 Road Improvement Project in Gratiot County 

MDOT will invest $36.9 million to improve 6.5 miles of US-127 from M-57 to Bagley Road in Gratiot County. The project also includes wider paved shoulders, guardrail upgrades, and drainage improvements. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 524 jobs. 

 

 

Widening I-94 in Jackson County  

MDOT will close the ramp from northbound US-127 to westbound I-94 for pavement repairs. This work is part of MDOT's ongoing $120 million investment to rebuild and widen I-94 near the Airport Road interchange to just west of the east US-127/I-94 interchange in Blackman and Leoni townships. The I-94 project includes upgrading the US-127/M-50 (West Avenue)/I-94 interchange to a diverging diamond interchange, the Elm Road interchange with roundabouts, and the Lansing Avenue bridge over I-94. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,452 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. 

 

Bridge Maintenance on I-94 in Jackson County  

MDOT will close the Sandstone Road bridge over I-94 and the Michigan Avenue bridge over I-94 in Jackson for maintenance. This work is part of the 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 1,960 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. 

 

I-75 Patching Project in Monroe County 

MDOT is closing the two right lanes of southbound I-75 from Dixie Highway to Mortar Creek Road for patching. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 16 jobs. 

 

 

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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