LANSING, Mich. -- On Oct 13th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the completion of three infrastructure projects in Gogebic, Livingston, and Luce counties as the administration continues to fix roads and bridges at a record pace across the state. The recently completed projects include the rebuilding of 2.7 miles of US-2 in Gogebic County, the Iosco Road Rebuilding Our Bridges project in Livingston County, and the Dollarville Road Rebuilding Our Bridges project in Luce County.  

“Thanks to our hard work, we are moving dirt to fix roads and bridges across Michigan at a record pace. With the completion of the projects in Gogebic, Livingston, and Luce counties, Michiganders will have a smoother drive, saving them time and money as they run errands, go to work, or travel,” said Governor Whitmer. “Through the end of 2022, we will fix over 16,000 lane miles of road and more than 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. The bipartisan budget I recently signed, will continue to support more projects like these across the state. The projects we’re moving forward with will support more good-paying jobs and deliver on an issue that matters to us all—safe, reliable infrastructure." 

Rebuilding US-2 in Gogebic County  

Major work wrapped up on Friday, October 7 on the two-year, $9.9 million project to rebuild 2.7 miles of US-2 from Powdermill Creek to east of Cedar Avenue through the city of Bessemer in the western Upper Peninsula’s Gogebic County. The work included reconfiguring lanes to add a center left-turn lane along with other safety improvements, storm sewer upgrades, and city sanitary sewer and water main replacements. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to have supported 126 jobs. 

Rebuilding Our Bridges project in Livingston County  

The Iosco Road bridge over the west branch of the Red Cedar River Drain, built in 1948, was in serious condition prior to rebuilding, which started August 15. The bridge had its superstructure replaced and slightly widened, along with substructure repairs and approach work. The bridge was reopened to traffic on Monday, October 10, four days ahead of schedule.  

Livingston County had two structures included in the Rebuilding Our Bridges program, on Mason and Iosco roads. Iosco Road, while not as heavily traveled as Mason Road, is a vital connector for many areas in the county. 

"Having this bridge included in the Rebuilding Our Bridges pilot was a tremendous benefit to be able fix the bridge with no impacts to our budget," said Steve Wasylk, managing director of the Livingston County Road Commission. 

Rebuilding Our Bridges project in Luce County  

The Dollarville Road (Luce County Road 405N) bridge over Teaspoon Creek, southwest of Newberry in Luce County, was built in 1951 and was in serious condition before rebuilding. The bridge had its deck and beams replaced, along with substructure patching. The bridge was reopened on Thursday, October 6 to traffic.  

“This bridge provides a critical link for residents, commuters, and emergency response between Newberry, the M-28 corridor, and the western part of Luce County,” said Mike McTiver, engineer-manager for the Luce County Road Commission. “Prior to the project, the structure had been posted for reduced weight allowance, limiting its capacity for commercial traffic use. I’m grateful that we were given this opportunity to have this bridge rehabilitated to continue to provide a critical link in this community for years to come. And it will be nice to have the bridge open just in time for peak fall color.” 

About Rebuilding Our Bridges 

Sixteen local agency bridge rebuilding projects are now largely finished, with work on three others ongoing. The last of the bridges is scheduled to be completed by November 20. 

This year's Rebuilding Our Bridges program, the first of its kind in Michigan, is repairing 19 bridges in serious or critical condition that are owned by local agencies. Each bridge will have its superstructure replaced, which includes full removal and replacement of the bridge deck and supporting beams. 

All of the bridges encompassed by the Rebuilding Our Bridges program will be completed within 60 or 90 days from the start of repairs. 

The Rebuilding Our Bridges program is funded by Federal Highway Improvement Program (HIP) dollars. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge staff and consultants are doing preliminary design and construction administration work for the program. 

An online dashboard at Michigan.gov/BridgeBundling provides project updates and shows percent completion, detour routes, and other information for each project.  

The pilot program is only the first phase of the Rebuilding Our Bridges initiative. $196 million in federal COVID relief funds appropriated by Govenor Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature will allow the state to execute Phase II of the Rebuilding Our Bridges program, beginning planning and development later this year, to address 59 more bridges.  

A list of the Phase II bridges, which were prioritized based on regional mobility and safety, is available here. Phase II focuses on closed and load-posted bridges. Some will be permanently removed while others will be fully replaced. 

MDOT expects the Rebuilding Our Bridges program, which covers several bridge locations under one contract, to streamline coordination and permitting, increase economies of scale, and improve bridge conditions on local routes around the state. MDOT is working to expand the approach, already in use on state trunkline projects, to address locally owned bridges. 

Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges  

Through the end of 2022, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist will have fixed, repaired, or replaced more than 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting more than 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. These and future repairs are made possible by the Rebuilding Michigan plan, a five-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, the largest one-time investment in Michigan's infrastructure in state history. These strategic investments in Michigan's infrastructure ensure that future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to run errands, travel, and strengthen the economy. 

Learn more about the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s historic infrastructure investments by clicking on the following link: Infrastructure Accomplishments. 

Infrastructure Investments in the FY 2023 Budget 

Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s fourth balanced and bipartisan budget expands on the investments in the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan signed in April by speeding up replacement of lead service lines, reducing traffic congestion at local rail crossings, improving state fish hatcheries, and funding long-overdue maintenance projects at state facilities.