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(Narrator) 2021 saw a
record-breaking investment in infrastructure by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The Rebuilding Michigan bond plan injected an additional billion dollars in funding
during the construction season, keeping MDOT and our partners
busy. From Detroit to the southwest corner of the state all the way up to Lake Superior,
Michigan's most traveled highways and some important tourist routes received extra attention.
(Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) It's really pretty amazing when
you think about the incredible work that MDOT is doing in the midst of the pandemic. Utilizing the
bonding proceeds from the work that we did last year and this is the work that we're
getting done. This increases quality of life, it increases return on our investment, and
this is why addressing infrastructure right now in this way is so important.
(Narrator) The Modernization of I-94 in Jackson County
received a boost from Rebuilding Michigan bond funding. Eight miles of I-94 is being rebuilt,
while the redesigned US-127/I-94 interchange was being updated with a new diverging diamond
interchange. New bridges were constructed at Elm and Lansing Avenue to support the modern freeway.
(Councilman Freddie Dancy) It has the opportunity to just
put Jackson more on the map. And I appreciate everything,
I appreciate MDOT doing this, but it's just... to me it makes Jackson look
bigger than it is. And with that, I believe it would bring more opportunities for
everyone here in the city, in the county, and it just would be a bright spot to be.
(Narrator) Over in Macomb County,
a two-year project on M-59 wrapped up. Local business owners say the $63 million investment
on one of the county's busiest stretches from Romeo Plank Road to I-94 was much needed.
(Brian Huck) It actually had
pretty minimal impact for us. They really did do a great job, MDOT did,
with communicating to us when things would be open, when things would be closed so we could
further pass that along to our customers, and really the impact for us was pretty minimal
overall. It definitely improved the road conditions for us as well.
(Narrator) Drivers on I-69 between
Flint and Port Huron saw several Rebuilding Michigan projects on this busy roadway,
including a $32 million investment between M-19 and Miller Road
near Emmett. More than 480 jobs depend on this 6-mile stretch. Originally slated to
be a two year project, the contractor was able to wrap up work in just one season.
(Rep. John Cherry) Here and particularly along the I-69 corridor,
we have, we're home to manufacturing and we really intersect a lot of different types
of transportation, whether that's air, rail, or trucking. And so having new and well-constructed
roads is really important for making sure that we continue to have a strong manufacturing economy.
(Narrator) In west Michigan, MDOT invested
$34 million as crews rebuilt 12 miles of southbound I-196 near Saugatuck, laying new
asphalt and rehabilitating several bridges on a vital commercial, commuter, and tourism corridor.
(Ryan Heise) Also important to our residents
is I-196 because our citizens have to use that highway for their weekly needs.
We don't have a lot of amenities in the city of Saugatuck, so they have to go shopping
in Holland and Grand Rapids. Likewise, we want to make sure that our visitors get here
safely and efficiently. We're a tourist-based economy, and so that's really important to us.
And then our workforce, a lot of them come from out of town, Holland, Grand Rapids,
and from the south as well. And so, we want to make sure they get here safely and efficiently.
(Narrator) Also on the west side, MDOT partnered with the Gun Lake Tribe to redesign and rebuild M-179
over US-131. The tribe is making additional financial investments in the area and funded
much of the work to help accommodate the expected increase in traffic.
(John Shagonaby) It's all about setting that
interchange up for the future as we would love to do more development, and I think the locals would
like to do some more development as well. So it was much needed and we couldn't just shut it down
and then replace it like the 100th Street bridge, but we had to keep it open so we can
maintain business operations, and MDOT and the contractors done a great job with that.
(Narrator) In MDOT’s North Region, work on M-72 in Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties and reconstruction
of nearly 6 miles of US-131 near Fife Lake were completed thanks to Rebuilding Michigan funds.
M-37 near Chums Corner, a popular tourist route for those visiting Traverse City, was rebuilt,
including two new roundabouts expected to help traffic flow during the busy summer months.
(Nicole Blonshine) With the Cherry Festival traffic,
the Northwestern Michigan Fair that happens to be right at one of the intersections,
all of the new residential developments, all of these subdivisions that are going in
right through that stretch of M-37. So, I appreciate MDOT
making that section a priority. I appreciate the investment in our community, not only making
it safer for the people that live here but the people that travel through our community.
(Narrator) Over in Berrien County,
MDOT has started work on a two-year project that will connect US-31 to I-94
near Benton Harbor. The $122.5 million project will rebuild more than 3 miles of I-94,
and interchanges for I-94 Business Loop and US-31, along with a new bridge at
Britain Avenue. Local residents have shown their appreciation for this project in a special way.
(Kimberley Shaffer) My family and I, my kids and I, we travel all the
time from Watervliet to the Benton Harbor/St. Joe area, and each time we were just so impressed by
the progress. It seemed like every day there was noticeable changes, not to mention that we saw the
workers out there working all kinds of weather, all times the day and night, they were just so
impressed. And my two kids said, "We need to do something for them." They said, "Why don't we
stop and give them a treat?" So, then we just kind of built upon that and took it a little further.
(Narrator) And residents in
Edenville appreciated the temporary bridge that was installed on M-30,
replacing the crossing that was washed out by last year’s devastating flooding.
(Beth Kelly) We've been able
to watch a lot of the construction and get to know some of the crews,
really appreciative of the work that they do. They've been working around the clock,
six days a week. Just so appreciative of the men and women working through a Michigan winter to
get this bridge back open, and really excited to celebrate each milestone for the community.
(Narrator) High-load hits
led to emergency repairs on several other bridges around the state. And the railroad
bridge over US-23 near Milan was deemed unsafe following a routine inspection.
Incidents like these showcased the department’s ability to mobilize and respond quickly.
Emergency repairs were also needed on Mackinac Island’s M-185.
The iconic route is critical to the island’s tourist industry,
carrying millions of visitors each year on foot, bike and horse drawn carriage.
(Steve Brisson) Millions of people have
enjoyed it over the years. For many people it's one of the great Mackinac Island memories,
riding around the island on M-185. This is just the latest example of
how well our organizations have worked together to maintain and preserve this great
amenity on Mackinac Island, this jewel of the state of Michigan.
(Narrator) Parts of the roadway had been
completely washed away by high water levels on Lake Huron, prompting the quick response by MDOT.
The reconstruction and new break wall should protect this scenic road for years to come.
In Marquette, more than $9 million was invested to resurface nearly 3 miles of US-41/M-28 and add a nonmotorized path.
Rebuilding Michigan Bond funding supported more than 10,000 jobs across the state, and
improved infrastructure will pave the way for more economic development and jobs in years to come.
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