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

LANSING, Mich. —  Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin road repair projects in two counties this week including resurfacing M-48 in Chippewa County, rebuilding US-131 in southern Kent County and M-20 improvements in Mecosta County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 1,022 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 23,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,600 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.” 

MDOT is investing about $1.6 million to resurface nearly 8 miles of M-48 east of M-129 in Chippewa County. The work includes an asphalt overlay, aggregate shoulders, guardrail repairs, and pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 19 jobs. 

County:	Chippewa
Highway:	M-48
Closest city:	Pickford
Start date:	Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Estimated end date:	Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Traffic restrictions:	Work will be performed during daytime hours only. One lane of alternating traffic will be maintained on M-48 using traffic regulators. A 10-foot lane width restriction will be in place during the project.
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety for motorists and extend the lifespan of the roadway.

MDOT is investing approximately $70 million to rebuild US-131 from 76th Street to 100th Street in Byron Township.The project includes adding weave/merge lanes between the 76th Street and 84th Street interchanges. This will extend the 76th Street on ramp to the 84th Street off ramp on southbound US-131 and extend the 84th Street on ramp to the 76th Street off ramp on northbound US-131. This two-year project begins this month and is expected to be finished in late November 2025. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 994 jobs. 

“We’re hard at work rebuilding West Michigan to create a stronger and more resilient future for the next generation, and reconstructing US-131 from 76th Street to 100th Street is yet another way we’re making it happen,” said U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten. “I can’t wait to see how this investment will help connect our communities and ease congestion while supporting nearly one thousand jobs.”

County:	Kent
Highway:	US-131
Closest city:	Grand Rapids
Start date:	Monday, May 6, 2024
Estimated end date:	November 2025
Traffic restrictions:	Lane closures, ramp closures and short-term detours will be in effect on US-131 throughout the project.
Safety benefit:	This project will improve the ride and extend the service life of US-131. The addition of weave/merge lanes connecting the interchanges will increase safety and improve operations.

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 improves the condition of the state's infrastructure.

MDOT is investing approximately $730,000 to resurface three miles of M-20 (9 Mile Road) from Hewlett Street to Costabella Avenue (Mecosta/Isabella county line) in Remus. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support nine jobs. 

County:	Mecosta
Highway:	M-20 (9 Mile Road)
Closest city:	Remus
Start date:	Monday, May 6, 2024
Estimated end date:	May 2024
Traffic restrictions:	Lane closures and traffic shifts will be in effect. Both directions of M-20 will share one lane and alternate via traffic regulators.
Safety benefit:	This project will improve the ride and extend the service life of M-20.

By the end of this construction season, Michigan will have fixed nearly 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 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.    