FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

September 26, 2022 

Contact: [email protected]  

Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Calhoun, Eaton, St. Joseph, and Wayne Counties  

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 the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is slated to begin multiple projects this week, including the next phase of work on the Rebuilding Michigan project on I-69 in Calhoun and Eaton counties, I-94 bridge repair work in Calhoun County, M-60 repaving in St. Joseph County, and post-tensioning work on Second Avenue bridge in Wayne County.  

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. These investments in Calhoun, Eaton, St. Joseph, and Wayne 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."  

Next Phase of Work on Rebuilding I-69 in Calhoun and Eaton Counties  

MDOT will begin rebuilding two ramps and a bridge's approaches as part of the ongoing $210 million investment to rebuild I-69 between Island Highway in Charlotte, Eaton County, and I-94 in Marshall, Calhoun County. 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. 

For project news and updates, subscribe to the I-69 rebuilding project e-mail list. 

I-94 Bridge Repair Work in Calhoun County  

MDOT will invest $297,000 to repair the eastbound I-94 bridge over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad near I-94 Business Loop/Columbia Avenue Exit 92. Work includes bridge and railing repairs. 

M-60 Repaving Project in St. Joseph County  

MDOT will invest $1.4 million to repave 6.1 miles of M-60 from Corey Lake Road to US-131 in Fabius Township, west of Three Rivers. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support nearly 18 jobs. 

Post-tensioning Work on Second Avenue Bridge in Wayne County 

MDOT announced that further steps required in building the new Second Avenue bridge over I-94 in Detroit will start Thursday, Sept. 29. This work will result in closing both directions of I-94 between I-75 and M-10 (Lodge Freeway) for five days. 

Post-tensioning is required on the new Second Avenue structure to reinforce the cables that support the bridge's driving surface for vehicular traffic, nonmotorized components, and barrier walls. The Second Avenue structure will be the first network tied arch bridge built in the state of Michigan. Network refers to the cables that are crossed from the top of the arch to the bottom of the driving surface on both sides of the structure.  

Follow the I-94 modernization project on the web at https://I94Detroit.org or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/I94Detroit or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/I94Detroit.    

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges   

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.  

Learn more about the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s historic infrastructure investments by clicking on the following link: Infrastructure Accomplishments.  

Infrastructure Investments in the FY 2023 Budget  

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. 

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