FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2022
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects in Berrien, Livingston, and Montcalm Counties Starting This Week
In 2022, Gov. Whitmer is making the largest investment in state roads and bridges in Michigan’s history
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that major road projects are expected to begin this week in Berrien, Livingston, and Montcalm counties. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects include the next phase of work for the I-94 Rebuilding Michigan program between Red Arrow Highway and Britain Avenue, the Southbound US-23 repair project in Livingston County and the M-66 improvement project in Montcalm County. These investments are expected to support 254 jobs.
“Across Michigan, we are fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. These investments in Berrien, Livingston, and Montcalm counties will support 254 jobs and help drivers go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office through the end of 2022, we will have invested 70% more in our roads than the previous four years to fix over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. Both my Rebuilding Michigan Plan and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan are helping us build safe, reliable infrastructure that makes a difference for families and small business across the state. I hope you all like orange because you’ll be seeing a lot of cones and barrels this summer. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, so let’s keep moving dirt and getting it done."
Next Phase of Work for the I-94 Rebuilding Michigan Project in Berrien County
MDOT is continuing prep work for the I-94 Rebuilding Michigan program between Red Arrow Highway and Britain Avenue in 2023 and 2024. Work this year is a $7.3 million investment that includes pavement repairs on 8.8 miles of I-94 from Puetz Road to Britain Avenue, widening the eastbound I-94 bridge over Pipestone Road, and building median crossovers and emergency pull-offs on I-94. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support nearly 93 jobs.
This work is part of 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.
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County: |
Berrien |
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Highways: |
I-94 |
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Closest city: |
Benton Harbor Bridgman |
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Start date: |
Monday, June 27 |
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Completion date: |
Tuesday, Nov. 15 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Expect left-lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-94, along with single-lane closures on Pipestone Road (with intermittent total closures and a posted detour).
The Pipestone Road detours are: • Northbound Pipestone Road: Eastbound I-94, Napier Avenue, westbound I-94, and northbound Pipestone Road. • Southbound Pipestone Road: Westbound I-94, M-139, eastbound I-94, and southbound Pipestone Road. |
M-66 Improvement Project in Montcalm County
MDOT is investing $1.3 million to improve approximately 7.5 miles of M-66 between Cedar Street and M-46. Work includes shoulder repairs, crack sealing, joint repair, and chip sealing. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 17 jobs.
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County: |
Montcalm |
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Highways: |
M-66 (Sheridan Road) |
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Closest city: |
Stanton |
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Start date: |
Monday, June 27 |
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Completion date: |
Late-July 2022 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Lane closures will be in effect throughout the project. Both directions of M-66 will share one lane and alternate via traffic regulators. |
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Safety benefit: |
This work will provide a safer and smoother driving surface and extend the service life of the roadway. |
Southbound US-23 Repair Project in Livingston County
MDOT is closing southbound US-23 from M-59 to Spencer Road nightly for rebuilding on Thursday night. This work is part of the M-59 resurfacing, safety, and drainage upgrades project, which will occur in multiple stages. Access will be maintained to all businesses throughout this project. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support nearly 144 jobs.
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County: |
Livingston |
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Highways: |
US-23 |
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Closest city: |
Howell |
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Start date: |
Thursday, June 30 |
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Completion date: |
Monday, July 25 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Traffic will be detoured via M-59, Old US-23, Spencer Road, and I-96. Motorists should expect delays. |
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Safety benefit: |
This project will provide a safer, smoother ride, along with drainage improvements that will ensure the integrity of the roadway. Closing lanes during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists. |
Rebuilding Michigan Plan
Since Governor Whitmer took office through the end of 2022, Michigan will have repaired, rebuilt, or replaced 16,000 lane miles of road and over 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. In April, Governor Whitmer signed the Building Michigan Together Plan, a bipartisan plan to invest nearly $5 billion in Michigan’s infrastructure, grow the economy, create jobs, and benefit families in every region of the state. The Building Michigan Together Plan calls for critical investments of $645 million in Michigan’s infrastructure, including $317 million for road and bridge programs, benefitting both state and local projects.
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