August 11, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2025
Contact: press@michigan.gov
Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Marquette, and Wexford Counties
LANSING, Mich.—Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin road and bridge repair projects this week in several counties across the state, including Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Marquette, and Wexford counties. These projects are expected to invest over $46 million and directly or indirectly support over 550 good-paying jobs. The governor reiterated the need to pass a long-term road funding solution that will fix the damn roads and support good-paying jobs in communities across Michigan.
“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.”
I-96 Bridge Rebuilding in Ingham County
MDOT is continuing a three-year, $44 million investment in I-96. The overall project includes rebuilding the eastbound and westbound I-96 bridges over Billwood Highway, the Grand River, M-99, and Washington Avenue. Road work and crossover removal is taking place this year. Based on economic modeling, this project is expected to directly and indirectly support approximately 532 jobs.
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Highways: |
I-96, M-99, Washington Avenue |
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Closest cities: |
Lansing |
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Start date: |
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
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Estimated end date: |
Thursday, August 14, 2025 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Eastbound and westbound I-96 will each have one lane closed from Washington Ave to M-99 daily. Motorists should follow posted detours and expect delays. |
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Safety benefit: |
This project will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-96. |
M-95 Resurfacing between Marquette County Roads near Republic
MDOT is investing about $1.5 million to resurface more than five miles of M-95 between Marquette County roads LLL and LLK near Republic. Work includes asphalt resurfacing, guardrail upgrades, and work on concrete curbs and gutters, rumble strips, and pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 14 jobs.
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Highway: |
M-95 |
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Closest cities: |
Republic |
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Start date: |
Monday, August 11, 2025 |
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Estimated end date: |
Early September 2025 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Motorists should expect single-lane closures with traffic regulators. |
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Safety benefit: |
This project will extend the lifespan of the road, provide a smoother ride, and increase safety for motorists. |
I-75 Pavement Joint and Crack Repairs in Genesee County
MDOT is investing about $700,000 to perform pavement joint and crack repairs on both directions of I-75 between US-23 and Court Street in Genesee County. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support six jobs.
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Highways: |
I-75 |
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Closest cities: |
Flint |
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Start date: |
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
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Estimated end date: |
Late September 2025 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
Work will be done nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. with two lanes closed in each direction. US-23 will have one lane closed in each direction at the I-75/US-23 split. Northbound I-75 will be closed at I-475 nightly August 12 and 13. |
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Safety benefit: |
This project will result in a smoother driving surface and increased safety. |
Deck Sealing on Bridges in Cheboygan, Wexford, Crawford, and Grand Traverse Counties
MDOT is investing approximately $483,000 to add epoxy coating to nine bridge decks in northern Michigan, on I-75, Webb Road over I-75, US-131, M-93, and M-37.
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Highways: |
I-75, Webb Road, US-131, M-93, and M-37 |
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Closest cities: |
Wolverine, Cadillac, Grayling, and Traverse City |
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Start date: |
Monday, August 11, 2025 |
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Estimated end date: |
Friday, September 19, 2025 |
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Traffic restrictions: |
On I-75 and US-131, drivers can expect single-lane closures with one lane open in each direction. On M-93 and Webb Road, drivers can expect single-lane closures with one lane of alternating traffic with traffic regulators. On M-37, drivers can expect single-lane closures with traffic shifts. |
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Safety benefit: |
This project will result in longer service lives for the bridges. |
Fixing the Damn Roads in Michigan
Since Governor Whitmer took office through the end of this year’s construction season, Michigan will have repaired over 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges, supporting over 188,000 good-paying jobs. Over the last six years, the Governor and the Legislature have worked together to deliver six balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $24 billion to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges, more than the previous eight years combined. These investments have been paired with actions to train thousands of workers for high-wage jobs, including in the construction industry.
However, as the Rebuilding Michigan bonding plan and federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act near expiration, Michigan is approaching a devastating funding cliff for both state-managed and local roads. Without a long-term, bipartisan road funding solution, thousands of good-paying jobs will be at risk. Critical projects will be delayed or canceled, creating more dangerous conditions for drivers, further straining our infrastructure, and jacking up the cost of future projects.
Governor Whitmer is committed to working with anyone to fix the damn roads with the right mix and materials so they are built to last. Recently, she sent a letter to the directors of MDOT and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) calling on them to compile and publicly release data on the impact of the state’s road funding cliff and federal funding rollbacks on Michigan’s unemployment. She will keep working with her legislative partners to reach a long-term deal.
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