RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Jackson and Monroe Counties

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-94 in Jackson County and the Rebuilding Michigan project on I-75 in Monroe County.

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. These investments in Jackson and Monroe counties will help Michiganders get where they need to go 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."

In Jackson County, work will begin near I-94 in Jackson to install a storm sewer. This work is part of the ongoing $120 million investment to rebuild and widen I-94 near the Airport Road interchange to just west of the east US-127/I-94 interchange in Blackman and Leoni Township. The I-94 project involves upgrading the US-127/M-50 (West Avenue)/I-94 interchange to a diverging diamond interchange, the Elm Road interchange with roundabouts, and the Lansing Avenue bridge over I-94. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 1,524 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:	Jackson
Highway:	Blake Road
Closest city:	Jackson
Start date:	7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022
Estimated end date:	7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2022
Traffic restrictions:	Traffic will be detoured via Dettman Road, and Seymour Road. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	This project will increase safety for workers and motorists through this work zone and will provide a smoother and safer driving surface.

This work is part of a $126 million investment to rebuild more than four miles of I-75 between Erie Road and Otter Creek, including rebuilding five bridges along with the ramps at Otter Creek and Luna Pier Roads. The majority of work for this project is taking place in 2023-2024, with preparations taking place this year.

County:	Monroe County
Highway:	Gaynier Road I-75
Closest city:	Monroe
Start date:	7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2022
Estimated end date:	5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
Traffic restrictions:	Traffic will be detoured via Luna Pier Road. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-75, 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.