FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2022
Contact: [email protected]
PHOTOS: Gov. Whitmer Officially Reopens I-69 After Undertaking Historic Repairs
In 2022, Gov. Whitmer is making the largest investment in state roads and bridges in Michigan’s history
LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Congressman Dan Kildee, Senator Minority Leader Jim Ananich, and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley to officially reopen all lanes of I-69 in each direction between Fenton Road and M-54 after construction crews completed work to fix the damn roads on this section of freeway. The $100 million project 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 repairs supported 1,270 jobs in total.
“The 2.5 mile stretch of I-69 between Fenton Road and M-54 is a vital economic corridor that carries 82,000 vehicles every day, and thanks to the Rebuilding Michigan plan’s $100 million investment supporting 1,270 jobs, we are fixing it to be better than ever,” said Governor Whitmer. “Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money and ensure they can go to work, run errands, and explore our beautiful state safely. I am proud that 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 without raising taxes by a dime. Let’s keep rolling up our sleeves and getting things done."
“With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are putting Michiganders back to work rebuilding our roads, bridges and highways,” said Congressman Dan Kildee. “We can’t compete in a twenty-first century economy with nineteenth century infrastructure. Our economic competitors like China are greatly investing in their own infrastructure—and we must too. Under past administrations, every week was 'Infrastructure Week.' Past presidents and past governors talked about infrastructure—but it was this Congress, and this Governor, who got it done.”
“Restoring three lanes in each direction and making repairs to 18 bridges was no small task, but the thousands of daily I-69 drivers deserved to have this work done and done well,” said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich. “Thanks to the hardworking men and women who saw this project through to the end, we’re going to have a much smoother, safer ride right here in Flint. Nobody has been more effective or efficient at getting orange barrels put up and taken down than Gov. Whitmer and her team, and our state is much better off thanks to her commitment to fixing the roads.”
The completion of 2.5 miles of I-69 recently reopened to traffic after nearly two years spent to rebuild the roadbed. While traffic in both directions is reopened, the $100 million project is expected to be completed before the end of the year, when bridges and ramps along the I-69 corridor and the I-69/I-475 interchange will also reopen to traffic.
On Sept. 22 crews moved traffic on I-69 to their designated bounds, marking the end of major road rebuilding that has kept both directions of traffic on one bound of I-69 since work started in February 2021. The road, originally built in the 1960’s, was in need of replacement following a number of maintenance repairs completed over the last decade to hold the road together until construction could begin. Funding for the project was made possible by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program and supported 1,270 jobs in total. The two-year project is part of an overall $400 million in bond funding committed to projects in Genesee County.
By the close of the calendar year, drivers will find 2.5 miles of new roadway along I-69, and 18 bridges within the project limits that have seen significant improvements. This includes the addition of full deck replacements to four bridges in the I-69/I-475 interchange. Originally planned for deck patches, MDOT decided to upgrade the work to full deck replacements after further inspecting the current condition. With proper maintenance, this has resulted in a 60-year life expectancy for those structures, improving the value for users.
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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