Capitol News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin new road repair projects this week in Saginaw, Clare, Clinton, Houghton, Baraga, and Kent counties. These efforts are expected to support 72 jobs either directly or indirectly.

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, lower the cost of auto repairs, improve motorist safety, and create good-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree,” said Governor Whitmer. “By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges. But our work is not done, and thousands of good-paying jobs are at stake if we don’t get a long-term road funding solution for Michigan. Let’s build on our momentum and pass a bipartisan, long-term local road funding plan so we can keep fixing the damn roads and building a bright future for Michigan.”

The projects include resurfacing 8.4 miles of M-13 in Saginaw County with an investment of about $2.5 million. The work involves milling and resurfacing as well as concrete joint repairs and new pavement markings. This project is projected to support 24 jobs.

In Clare County, improvements will be made to the Clarabella Road overpass as part of a $2.7 million investment covering repairs to 13 structures across several counties. The work includes heat straightening and painting on highways such as US-10. This effort is expected to support 26 jobs.

Clinton County will see approximately $900,000 invested in resurfacing two miles of I-96 Business Loop (Grand River Avenue). Eight jobs are anticipated from this project.

In Houghton and Baraga counties, MDOT plans to invest around $250,000 to mill and resurface sections of US-41 in L’Anse Township and Hancock. This project is estimated to support two jobs.

Kent County’s bridge work at the I-196/US-131 interchange in Grand Rapids involves a $1.3 million investment aimed at improving five bridges through concrete substructure repair and other upgrades. Twelve jobs are expected from this project.

Since Governor Whitmer took office through the end of this year’s construction season, more than 24,500 lane miles of road and 1,900 bridges have been repaired across Michigan. Over six years, more than $24 billion has been allocated by the governor’s administration along with the Legislature for these infrastructure projects—more than what was spent in the previous eight years combined.

The state faces challenges as federal funding from programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act nears expiration alongside Michigan's Rebuilding Michigan plan. Without a long-term bipartisan funding solution for roads at both state-managed and local levels, there is concern that thousands of jobs could be lost due to delayed or canceled projects.

Governor Whitmer recently sent a letter urging state departments to release data on how reduced funding could impact unemployment related to infrastructure work in Michigan. She emphasized her commitment to working with legislative partners toward securing sustainable road funding.