Capitol News

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has reopened the north segment of Interstate 475 in Genesee County after completing a major reconstruction project. The $141 million investment involved rebuilding more than three miles of roadway from the Flint River to Carpenter Road in Flint, constructing a new bridge over the Flint River, and making improvements to several other structures along the corridor. Construction began in April 2024 with work on the northbound lanes and shifted to southbound lanes by December 2024.

"This major project will help extend the life of the roadway for years to come," said Paul Schiefer, MDOT project engineer. "The work done on this important corridor will improve safety while right-sizing and modernizing our infrastructure to meet current traffic volumes and needs."

Although I-475 has reopened, there will be ongoing work on northbound lanes as crews complete final tasks such as sealing barrier walls, painting bridges, and applying concrete surface coatings. These activities may require intermittent lane closures and traffic shifts through the fall. No additional southbound lane closures are expected.

MDOT plans further reconstruction efforts on I-475, focusing next on the middle and south segments between the Flint River and Bristol Road. This portion is expected to begin in spring 2026, with details about traffic restrictions to be provided before construction starts.

Funding for these projects comes from Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program, which targets state highways and bridges essential for Michigan’s economy and highest traffic volumes. The strategy aims for durable repairs that improve infrastructure conditions across the state.