Gov. Whitmer visits road work site, pushes for more funding to improve Michigan bridges
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is traveling around Michigan, reviewing progress on the Rebuild Michigan plan and pushing for more funding to improve state and local bridges. On Monday, Whitmer made a stop in Eaton County along I-69 near Charlotte. (WWMT/Callie Rainey)
EATON COUNTY, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer traveled around Michigan to review progress on the Rebuild Michigan plan and push for more funding to improve state and local bridges.
Whitmer made a stop in Eaton County along Interstate Highway 69 near Charlotte Monday, March 22, 2021.
The project was part of a $210 million Rebuilding Michigan investment, which rebuilds 23 miles between Marshall and Charlotte. According to the administration, the investment also supports 2,667 jobs.
Whitmer said many of the state's roads and bridges are at risk of collapsing. She said fixing the roads immediately would help save the state more money in the long run.
Already underway in Michigan is the $350 million Rebuilding Michigan plan, which adds and expands 122 major new projects for the state's freeways. The five-year transportation program is scheduled to be done by 2024.
The plan will tackle 49 projects and would expedite or broaden another 73 projects.
"Rebuilding Michigan’s infrastructure makes our roads safer and economy stronger for everyone, which is why it has been a priority for my administration since day one,” said Whitmer. “The Rebuilding Michigan plan allows us to continue fixing the roads this construction season, without an increase at the gas pump. We need to keep our foot on the gas when it comes to investing in our state’s infrastructure and creating good-paying jobs."
That bonding money could only be used on state-level projects though, which left funding for local roads unchanged.
With the American Rescue Plan dollars coming to the state, Whitmer was hoping to get the Bridge Bundling Program passed through the Legislature to take on 120 local bridges across the state.
She said the $300 million supplemental budget request would help repair or replace 120 local bridges either in critical condition or already closed.
"We've got a once in a lifetime opportunity with the American Rescue Plan dollars coming to Michigan, thanks to President Biden, we've got about $10 billion. This is money that we can use to make once in a lifetime type of investments," said Whitmer.
Whitmer said her biggest concern was the Legislature would sit on the money and not spend it.
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