FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 4, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Announces Funding to Fix the Damn Roads in Rural Counties, Saving Locals $2.9 Million

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer awarded nine grants to the following cities and road agencies to help rebuild local roads in rural counties across Michigan, which will save local taxpayers $2.9 million.

“These grants will help communities across the state fix local roads faster so people can get to work or drop their kids off at school and businesses can move goods and supplies around more efficiently all year round,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, Michigan has fixed nearly 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges while supporting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. Today’s projects will build on that total as we continue working together to fix the damn roads. Let’s keep rolling up our sleeves and moving dirt to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

City of Ishpeming: Washington Street

The City of Ishpeming will resurface Washington Street from County Road PAA to Old Washington Street. The project includes pulverizing the existing surface, widening, regrading, compacting and resurfacing the roadway, paving shoulders and installing pavement markings.

Washington Street is part of a truck route connecting the Tilden Mine to US-41. This project will increase pavement depth and improve road quality to allow an increase in truck traffic and safety. Commodities typically hauled on the roadway include mining materials and supplies.

The total project cost is $515,000, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (73 percent of construction costs) and $140,000 in matching funds from the City of Ishpeming.

Mason County Road Commission: South Jebavy Drive

The Mason County Road Commission will rebuild South Jebavy Drive from US-10 south to East Mitchell Street. The project will include road and shoulder widening, drainage improvements and the addition of curbs to bring the roadway up to all-season standards.

South Jebavy Road will serve as part of a new all-season route connecting US-10 to Pere Marquette Highway, which will greatly benefit businesses and help with congestion in the area. Commodities hauled on this roadway will include consumable goods, supplies for repair shops, sand, gravel and foundry materials.

The total project cost is $760,330, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (49 percent of construction costs), $385,000 in MDOT Small Urban Funding and $330 in matching funds from the Mason County Road Commission.

City of Allegan: Airway Drive

The City of Allegan will resurface Airway Drive from Grand Street to Industrial Drive. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, repaving, curb and gutter replacement, and improvements to sidewalks to comply with American With Disability Act (ADA) standards.

Airway Drive serves as the major connector from M-222, through the Allegan Highland Business Park, as part of a truck route to access County Road A-37 to the north. This project will improve roadway condition and allow truck traffic to operate smoothly on the route. Commodities typically hauled on this road include fabrication materials, moving equipment, packaging materials, skin care and personal hygiene products, and instructional materials.

The total project cost is $787,936, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (48 percent of construction costs) and $412,936 in matching funds from the City of Allegan.

City of Bay City: Marquette Avenue

The City of Bay City will resurface Marquette Avenue from Transit Street to Harry S. Truman Parkway. The project includes full-depth concrete patching, traffic signal upgrade, curb repair and installing pavement markings.

Marquette Avenue is a north-south truck route close to the Saginaw River and connects to Veterans Memorial Bridge. Truck traffic is expected to significantly increase on this route as a result of new bridge tolls required on other truck routes in the city. Repairs are needed to be able to withstand the additional traffic over time. Commodities typically hauled on this route include stone materials, machine parts, hot-mix asphalt, industrial products, wind turbine parts and other items imported from other counties by ship.

The total project cost is $470,555, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (80 percent of construction costs) and $95,555 in matching funds from the City of Bay City.

City of St. Clair: Clinton Avenue 

The City of St. Clair will resurface Clinton Avenue from Fred W. Moore Highway/6th Street to Carney Drive. The project includes milling and resurfacing the existing asphalt surface, replacement of curb and gutter and ADA sidewalk upgrades.

Clinton Avenue is an all-season route between M-29 (Riverside Avenue) and Carney Drive. The project will improve the surface condition to maintain the truck route. Commodities typically hauled on this route include automotive parts, steel, aluminum projects, tool and dies, farming equipment and goods, salt manufacturing materials and goods. Clinton Avenue also is part of an important emergency route.

The total project cost is $552,650, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (68 percent of construction costs) and $177,650 in matching funds from the City of St. Clair.

Van Buren County Road Commission: Kalamazoo Street

The Van Buren County Road Commission will resurface Kalamazoo Street from Blue Star Highway north 0.2 miles to the South Haven city limit. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, asphalt paving, curb and gutter replacement, and installing new pavement markings.

Kalamazoo Street is part of a truck route allowing commercial traffic access between the city of South Haven’s industrial areas and Blue Star Highway. This project will improve road conditions for a safe and continuous all-season road system. Commodities typically hauled on this roadway include concrete, landscape materials, steel and other metals, vehicle and equipment parts, plastics and other manufacturing supplies.

The total project cost is $125,645, with up to $100,516 in TEDF Category F funds (80 percent of construction costs) and $25,129 in matching funds from the Van Buren County Road Commission.

Village of Schoolcraft: West Eliza Street

The Village of Schoolcraft will rebuild West Eliza Street from US-131 west 0.5 miles to the village limit. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, fine grading and compaction of the aggregate base, paving, re-establishing ditches and installing new pavement markings.

West Eliza Street is a major street in Tecumseh that provides east-west access to town and to US-131. This project will improve the road condition and solve drainage issues to accommodate commercial truck traffic. Commodities typically hauled on this road include aggregate materials, food and beverage, freight and supplies for the downtown businesses.

The total project cost is $402,750, with up to $201,375 in TEDF Category F funds (50 percent of construction) and $201,375 in matching funds from the Village of Schoolcraft.

City of Chelsea: North Street

The City of Chelsea will rebuild North Street from M-52 (Main Street) to Hayes Street. The project includes replacing curb and gutter and sidewalk improvements to meet ADA requirements.

North Street serves as the main entrance for the Chelsea Milling Co. and as a commercial traffic bypass route to avoid narrow roadways and pedestrian traffic downtown. This project will improve the paved surface and increase pavement depth, resulting in a longer-lasting roadway capable of handling an increase in truck traffic. Commodities typically hauled on this route include raw ingredients and finished products for the milling company, as well as iron products for a metal stamping company.

The total project cost is $796,679, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (47 percent of construction costs) and $421,679 in matching funds from the City of Chelsea.

City of Tecumseh: South Occidental Highway

The City of Tecumseh will resurface South Occidental Highway from M-50 (West Chicago Boulevard) to West Russell Road. The project includes resurfacing the existing asphalt, curb and gutter replacement, new pavement markings and ADA ramp improvements.

South Occidental Highway provides access to the Tecumseh commercial business corridor on M-50. The proposed project will improve the road condition and safety. Commodities typically hauled in this corridor include aggregates, food service, freight and agricultural goods.

The total project cost is $750,035, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (50 percent of construction costs) and $375,035 in matching funds from the City of Tecumseh.

About Transportation Economic Development Grants 

Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) helps finance highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers. TEDF “Category F” or “Urban Areas in Rural Counties” grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that create system continuity with the secondary all-season road system. Eligible entities for the Category F program are urban areas of 5,000 population or more, in rural counties having less than 400,000 population.

Category F grants provide funding for projects that include improving access to the state all-season system or improving safety and all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic. Eligible road agencies include county road commissions, cities and villages. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.