RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Clinton, Ingham, and Wayne 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-69 in Clinton County, the next phase of work on the US-127 Rebuilding Michigan project in Ingham County, and the next phase of work on the new Second Avenue bridge over I-94 in Wayne County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 2,051 jobs.

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

MDOT will close Airport Road over I-69 for bridge rebuilding in Clinton County starting Thursday, October 27. This work is part of the I-69 Rebuilding Michigan project to rebuild 5.3 miles of I-69 from Airport Road to the I-96/I-69 interchange. The project also involves rebuilding the interchanges at Francis and Airport roads and performing repairs to 13 bridges between the I-96/I-69 interchange and Airport Road, with additional bridge work in 2023. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 927 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:	Clinton
Highway:	I-69
Closest city:	DeWitt
Start date:	Thursday, October 27
Estimated end date:	Wednesday, November 23
Traffic restrictions:	This work will require closing Airport Road over I-69. Traffic will be detoured via Clark Road, DeWitt Road, and Stoll Road. Motorists should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will extend the life of the structure. Closing lanes during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists.

MDOT will close the southbound US-127 ramp to Barnes Road and the northbound US-127 off and on ramps at Kipp Road for maintenance. This work is part of the multi-year US-127 resurfacing and bridge repair project in Ingham County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 800 jobs. MDOT is investing approximately $62 million to resurface 12.5 miles of pavement, repair 10 structures, improve drainage, and install guardrail and barrier wall on US-127 between the Jackson/Ingham county line and M-36 in Ingham County.

County:	Ingham
Highway:	US-127
Closest cities:	Mason Leslie
Start date:	Monday, October 24 (Southbound US-127 ramp to Barnes Road) Monday, October 31 (US-127 ramps at Kipp Road)
Estimated end date:	Friday, November 11 (Southbound US-127 ramp to Barnes Road) Friday, November 18 (US-127 ramps at Kipp Road)
Traffic restrictions:	This work will require all these ramps to all be closed. Please follow posted detours. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Safety benefit:	These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of US-127, which is an important route for commuter, commercial, and tourism traffic.

Weather permitting, structural work will require closing the northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) ramp to eastbound I-94 in Detroit at noon on Monday, October 24. The ramp closure is needed for the safety of crews and motoring public while work continues on the new Second Avenue bridge over I-94. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 324 jobs.

County:	Wayne
Highway:	Northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) ramp to eastbound I-94
Closest city:	Detroit
Start date:	Monday, October 24
Estimated end date:	Friday, October 28
Traffic restrictions:	During the closure, ramp traffic will be directed to northbound I-75 to access eastbound I-94.

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.