In 2022, Governor Whitmer is making the largest investment in state roads and bridges in Michigan’s history? 

Lansing, MI – On June 10th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the reopening of the 31 Mile Road bridge in Macomb County, under repair since late April, has reopened to traffic a full two weeks ahead of schedule. This is the sixth bridge repaired this year under the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Rebuilding MI Bridges program.?The project was originally expected to be reopened to traffic by June 24, but MDOT contractors were able to get the job done well in advance. 

"The reopening of the 31 Mile Road bridge is something for all drivers to celebrate," said?Governor Whitmer. "We are making such tremendous progress to fix roads and bridges. Just as construction season kicks into high gear, we already have six bridge projects completed, with the latest one completed two weeks ahead of schedule. We are moving dirt and orange cones throughout the state at record pace as we make the largest investment in state roads and bridges in Michigan's history. Let's keep our foot on the gas until we've fixed all of the damn roads.” 

"31 Mile Road over the Tupper Brook Drain is an important east and west route that connects rural traffic to key north and south roadways in Macomb County," said Macomb County Department of Roads Director Bryan Santo. "The Rebuilding MI Bridges program is a valuable resource, addressing critical infrastructure needs with state funding while allowing Macomb County Department of Roads to focus on other important road and bridge projects. We are committed to improving Macomb County's road and bridge system while delivering the greatest value to residents, drivers and our community." 

Current Rebuilding MI Bridges projects:  

Six local agency Rebuilding MI Bridges projects are now largely completed, work on two others is under way, and four more projects are set to begin this month.   

Repairs on the Mason Road bridge over the south branch of the Shiawassee River in Livingston County began May 31. Rebuilding of the Tallman Road bridge over the Maple River in Clinton County began Monday.  

Four other projects are scheduled to begin later in June: 

"This is the most supportive program from the State of Michigan for local bridges that I've ever seen," said Wayne Harrall, deputy managing director for engineering at the Kent County Road Commission. "The MDOT Bureau of Bridges has engaged with local agencies from the beginning, before there was even funding allocated to the effort." 

About Rebuilding MI Bridges Program  

Major repairs on several other local agency bridges continue this month as the pilot project moves forward. Six bridge bundling projects started in March and April. Four are now largely complete. All bridges encompassed by the program will be completed and reopened to traffic within 60 or 90 days from the start of repairs. 

The Rebuilding MI Bridges pilot program, the first of its kind in Michigan, will repair 19 bridges owned by local agencies in serious or critical condition. Each bridge will have its superstructure replaced, which includes full removal and replacement of the bridge deck and supporting beams. 

The pilot project is funded by Federal Highway Improvement Program (HIP) dollars. MDOT bridge staff and consultants are doing preliminary design and construction administration work for the bridge bundling program. 

MDOT expects bridge bundling, 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. 

The program’s online dashboard at?Michigan.gov/BridgeBundling?provides project updates and shows percent completion, detour routes, and other information for each of these projects. 

The remaining seven bridges to be rebuilt this year under the pilot project are:

Rebuilding MI Bridges Program Phase II 

$196 million in federal COVID relief funds appropriated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature will allow the state to execute Phase II of the bridge bundling program, beginning 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.