New Financing for Roads Accelerates Necessary Road & Bridge Rebuilding & Repairs
LANSING, Mich. – The State Transportation Commission yesterday announced their unanimous vote to authorize the “Rebuilding Michigan” program following Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address on Wednesday. The new plan will allow the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to sell $3.5 billion in bonds for 49 critical interstate and bridge projects and accelerate rebuilding for 73 additional state-owned projects. The objective of the program is to avoid legislative delay in financing essential repairs to major state roadways and bridges that support the heaviest traffic.
For the tri-county region, this translates to an increased investment of over $312 million in new infrastructure projects:
Rebuilding I-496/US-127 from I-96 interchange to I-496 interchange
Rebuilding I-496 from Lansing Rd to the Grand River
Rehabilitating US-127 from Jackson county line to M-36
Bridge replacement for 11 bridges along I-496/US-127 north of I-96
Bridge preservation for 20 structures on I-496, Lansing Rd to the Grand River
Preventative maintenance on 7 bridges along I-496/US-127 north of I-96
Preventative maintenance on 12 bridges on US-127 from Jackson county line to M-36
Bridge replacements on I-96 east and westbound over Grand River and Billwood Hwy
“It’s no secret that improving our infrastructure in both our region and throughout the state is a top priority as we work together to enhance mobility, economic investment, and the region’s future,” said Jim Snell, executive director of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Tri-County). “We’re excited to see new projects happening in our region and we’ll continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to coordinate funding and transportation projects for the Greater Lansing area.”
In addition to the projects listed above, several infrastructure improvements totaling over $227 million that were previously planned for by Tri-County in their Transportation Improvement Program will now be funded through the bonding program. In total, this results in over $540 million in “Rebuilding Michigan” projects planned in the region through 2023.
“The strength of our infrastructure is directly connected to the strength of our region,” said Bryan Crenshaw, Ingham County Board of Commissioners Chair. “These projects are important to our region, especially our top regional infrastructure priority of fixing and modernizing US-127/I-496.”
To learn more about the “Rebuilding Michigan” program and view planned statewide transportation projects, visit MDOT’s website or the interactive map.
Contact
Ashling Jackson
Director of Marketing & Community Outreach
517-898-1098
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The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission is a public planning agency established in 1956, serving Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties in Mid-Michigan. Tri-County makes our region a more prosperous community by planning for a strong economy, reliable transportation, and sustainable infrastructure and natural resources. Learn more at www.mitcrpc.org.
The Capital Council of Governments (CAPCOG), a partnership between Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties as well as the Lansing Regional Chamber and Michigan State University, is committed to working on regional strategies that benefit the entire region.
