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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

May 12, 2025

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

LANSING, Mich. —  Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin road repair projects this week in counties across the state, including Emmet and Kent counties. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to directly and indirectly support 38 jobs.

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, let’s build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan, so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs.”

US-131 Resurfacing in Emmet County

MDOT will invest $933,472 to resurface nearly 1.6 miles of US-131 from south of Lears Road to south of US-31 in the city of Petoskey, Emmet County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support nine jobs.

County:	Emmet
Highway:	US-131
Closest city:	Petoskey
Start date:	Monday, May 12, 2025
Estimated end date:	Friday, June 20, 2025
Traffic restrictions:	This work will primarily be done at night, with traffic regulators and traffic shifts. Some minor work, including pavement and curb repairs, will be done during daytime hours.
Safety benefit:	This work will extend the pavement service life and will include new pavement markings.

I-96 Resurfacing in Kent County

MDOT is investing approximately $3 million to rebuild three miles of I-96 between M-37 (E. Beltline Avenue) and Cascade Road in Grand Rapids. The project includes joint repair and asphalt resurfacing. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 29 jobs.

County:	Kent
Highway:	I-96
Closest city:	Grand Rapids
Start date:	Monday, May 12, 2025
Estimated end date:	Mid July 2025
Traffic restrictions:	Weeknight (7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.) lane closures, ramp closures and total closures with detours will be in effect throughout the project. Weekend restrictions will remain in place until 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Ramps at the I-96 interchanges with E. Beltline Avenue, M-21 (Fulton Street) and Cascade Road will be closed intermittently. Nightly total closures will be in place at the I-96/I-196 junction, with westbound traffic detoured to Cascade Road and eastbound traffic detoured to E. Beltline Avenue.
Safety benefit:	This project will improve the ride and extend the service life of the roadway.

###