PHOTOS: Lt. Governor Gilchrist Tours I-496 Rebuilding Michigan Project in Ingham County 

Whitmer-Gilchrist administration is making record investments to fix 16,000 lane miles of road, 1,200 bridges 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II joined Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, State Representative Kara Hope, County Commissioner Ryan Sebolt, and Lansing Deputy Mayor Jane Bais-DiSessa to tour the I-496 Rebuilding Michigan project in Ingham County. This $80 million investment to rebuild two miles of I-496 from Lansing Road to the Grand River, which supports 1,016 jobs, is part of the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s Rebuilding Michigan Plan to rebuild the state’s most economically critical and most used highways and bridges.  

“To build the economy of the future, we must invest in Michigan’s infrastructure,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Since the beginning of our administration through the end of this year, we have fixed 16,000 lane miles of roads and 1,200 bridges in communities across MIchigan. Projects like I-496 fix our roads and highways with the right mix and materials, lower costs for drivers, and boost safety in critical commercial corridors. Governor Whitmer and I will continue to grow Michigan’s economy, create jobs, and invest in infrastructure throughout our state.” 

“Rebuilding our highways like I-496 is a great example of how government is supposed to work: with federal, state and local officials working together to solve the problems communities like Lansing are dealing with,” said U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08). “Between the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Congress passed last year and the Governor’s Rebuilding Michigan plan, thousands of new, good-paying jobs are being added across the state so we can repair our roads and bridges, expand broadband access, and finally address our water infrastructure. The I-496 project here in the capital is one of many more to come that’s going to support small businesses and local industry so Michigan is ready to lead the way in 21st century manufacturing.” 

“I was proud to join Lt Gov. Gilchrist in celebrating the “Rebuilding Michigan” construction on I-496 near downtown Lansing,” said Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “Our crumbling infrastructure and dilapidated roads have been neglected for far too long, resulting in costly effects on the Lansing area. Through Gov. Whitmer’s plan, the revitalization of one of our region’s most traveled routes will create a safer, more prosperous community for residents, businesses, and tourists alike. This project is exactly the kind of investment Lansing deserves, and I look forward to its completion.” 

About the I-496 Rebuilding Michigan Project: 

Both directions of I-496 traffic are detoured between Lansing Road and the Grand River during this project. Activity includes rebuilding the freeway and interchange ramps, including operational improvements from the Lansing Road and M-99 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) interchanges, preventive maintenance on 17 bridges, and upgrades to the service drives from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the east. 

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges  

Since the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration took office office through the end of 2022, Michigan will have fixed 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 rely on and strengthen the economy. 

For more information about the administration’s historic investments in infrastructure, click here. 

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