RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects in Allegan, Calhoun, and Ottawa Counties Starting This Week

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will kick off multiple projects this week as Michigan repairs roads at a record pace. The projects starting this week include US-31 resurfacing project in Allegan and Ottawa counties, Michigan Avenue resurfacing project in Calhoun County, and the next phase of work on the I-69 Rebuilding Michigan project in Calhoun County. Based on economic modeling, this investment will support 2,721 jobs.

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. This investment in Allegan, Calhoun, and Ottawa counties will help Michiganders get to work, run errands, and explore our beautiful state 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’m proud of what we have accomplished, so let’s roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done."

MDOT is investing $3.9 million to resurface 1.3 miles of US-31 from Central Avenue north to 32nd Street in the city of Holland. The work includes new concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk, guardrail, and signing. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 50 jobs.

County:	Allegan and Ottawa
Highway:	US-31
Closest city:	Holland
Start date:	Monday, Sept. 19, 2022
Estimated end date:	Late November 2022
Traffic restrictions:	Lane closures, traffic shifts and full closures will be in effect throughout the project.
Safety benefit:	This work will provide a safer and smoother driving surface and extend the service life of US-31.

MDOT will be investing $279,000 to resurface one mile of I-94 Business Loop (BL) (Michigan Avenue) from Marshall Avenue to Partello Road. This work was delayed from its original schedule earlier this year in order to coordinate it with work taking place at the I-69/I-94 interchange. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support four jobs.

County:	Calhoun
Highway:	I-94 BL (Michigan Avenue)
Closest city:	Marshall
Start date:	Monday, Sept. 19, 2022
Estimated end date:	Friday, Oct. 28, 2022
Traffic restrictions:	One lane will be open in each direction.
Safety benefit:	This work will provide a safer and smoother driving surface and extend the life of the roadway.

As part of MDOT’s ongoing $210 million investment to rebuild I-69 between Island Highway in Charlotte, Eaton County, and I-94 in Marshall, Calhoun County, work will continue rebuilding ramps at the I-94/I-69 interchange. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support nearly 2,667 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 improves the condition of the state's infrastructure.

County:	Calhoun
Highway:	I-94
Closest city:	Marshall
Start date:	Monday, Sept. 19, 2022
Estimated end date:	Friday, Sept. 30, 2022
Traffic restrictions:	There will be a single-lane closure on eastbound I-94 for the duration of this work. Motorists are advised to see alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-69, which is a significant local and national trade corridor.

By the end of 2022, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist will have fixed, repaired, or replaced more than 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting more than 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. 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.

Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s fourth balanced and bipartisan budget expands on the investments in the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan signed in April by speeding up replacement of lead service lines, reducing traffic congestion at local rail crossings, improving state fish hatcheries, and funding long-overdue maintenance projects at state facilities.