On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg paid a visit to the Port of Monroe in Michigan to tout federal efforts to improve infrastructure in the state.
The visit highlighted upcoming infrastructure investment to the port which is receiving $11 million to expand cargo capacity, and in the city, which is receiving a $24 million grant to build an underpass, eliminating train delays at West Elm Avenue.
"I'm inspired by the mission, vision, and energy that's right here in Monroe and we're here to try to make things a little bit easier and put a wind at the backs of everybody doing the work," said Buttigieg.
Staff at the Port of Monroe said the $11 million will go toward renewing aged infrastructure and building new infrastructure like renewable energy cargo containers.
"We've been able to take a major step forward. Governor Whitmer teases me that I'm the secretary of fixing the damn roads and I often feel that way in a lot of respects (by) helping mayors, governors, port directors do what they need to do with more federal dollars," Buttigieg said.
The $24 million for the underpass project in Monroe comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
According to Mayor Bob Clark, Monroe has transportation connectivity issues that the underpass will resolve.
"Our challenge in the city of Monroe is that we have many roads that go north and south. This (underpass) is east to west and there's very few passages ... in our community, so it's significant not only for the residents of Monroe but others that travel through the city ... and to know that you can make passage without getting delayed," Clark said.
Clark projects the underpass will be completed in 2026.
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Source: DetroitNews.com
