Recently, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin road and bridge repair projects this week in 12 counties. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sat down to discuss the impact of the improvements.
“We have an enormous amount of resources going into Michigan right now, really for every form of transportation," said Buttigieg in a statement.
"We've been funding improvements to bridges, highways, even just local streets, trying to make them safer through grants to cities." He said.
Now a Michigan resident himself, Buttigieg said he is well accustomed to the amount of work taking place in the western portion of the state.
"I've done my share of navigating around cones on 131-196," says Buttigieg. "I know that it can be a headache during the period when that construction is underway."
One new road getting attention is 28th Street. The Secretary recently announced $12M to upgrade storm drainage and surface infrastructure to prevent future flooding.
"Certainly, anybody who's dealt with 28th street and when it's been flooded, knows what we're up against," said Buttigieg.
MDOT says the plans including replacing the existing pump station which services Division Avenue and M-11 under two railroad bridges.
MDOT’s plans further explains that the "current pump stations are outdated and cannot keep up with the capacity needed to address the standing water issues on Division Avenue and M-11 during high rainfall events."
In addition, they will also enhance existing storm water drainage systems within the project limits and rebuild the roadway.
MDOT said that the construction schedule has yet to be determined and will depend on the distribution of the grant funds.
Other projects in the state include rebuilding M-43 in Barry county, bridge updates in Bay county, bridge repairs in Bay, Gratiot, and Isabella counties, bridge deck replacement over I-75 in Cheboygan county, rebuilding I-475 in Genesee county, intersection improvements on M-54 in Genesee county, resurfacing projects in Gladwin county, bridge repairs in Jackson county, highway and bridge work in Kalamazoo county, and bridge repairs in Mackinac county.
“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to drive economic activity, help Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands safely,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 23,000 lane miles of roads and more than 1,600 bridges since I took office.”
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Source: Fox17Online.com, Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer
