FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

April 8, 2024 

Contact: [email protected]    

Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Monroe and Ottawa Counties    

LANSING, Mich. —  Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin two road and bridge projects this week including rebuilding a bridge on I-75 in Monroe County and rebuilding I-196 in Ottawa County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 1,766 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. “Since taking office, we have rebuilt or repaired more than 20,000 lane miles and 1,400 bridges, supporting over 118,000 jobs, with the Rebuilding Our Bridges program delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to fix local bridges alone. My recent budget recommendation builds on this previous work investing over $15 billion in Michigan's roads and bridges. Let’s roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done.”     

Rebuilding Bridge on I-75 in Monroe County   

MDOT will have closures on northbound and southbound I-75 at Luna Pier Road beginning this Friday. This work is part of MDOT's multi-year $126 million investment to rebuild more than four miles of I-75 between Erie Road and Otter Creek in Monroe County, including rebuilding five bridges along with the ramps at Otter Creek and Luna Pier roads. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,525 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.  

Rebuilding I-196 BL Between Holland and Zeeland 

MDOT is investing approximately $17 million to rebuild 4.5 miles of eastbound and westbound I-196 Business Loop (BL) from US-31 in Holland to 88th Avenue in Zeeland. Work includes asphalt resurfacing, full-depth concrete joint repairs, new signs, traffic signal work, and new guardrail. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 241 jobs.   

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges      

Since Governor Whitmer took office, Michigan has 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 118,000 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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