Governor and MDOT announces loans to repair and improve
infrastructure in Ontonagon and Oakland counties 

LANSING, MICH – Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announce the award of $4 million in Michigan State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) loans that will repair and improve roads and sidewalks for local communities.

“Michigan State Infrastructure Bank loans are a vital tool to help local communities fix the damn roads,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Today’s investments will accelerate the repair of roads damaged by water in Ontonagon County and to install sidewalks in the village of Beverly Hills to avoid further construction delays or disruptions to daily life. Getting this done will help families get to where they need to go, support local jobs, and keep the community safe.”

The Ontonagon County Road Commission (OCRC) will receive a $2 million SIB loan to repair multiple roads within Ontonagon County that were damaged from excessive spring water runoff earlier this year. A SIB loan is desperately needed to ensure roads are restored and residents have access to their homes and places of employment. Delaying repairs may cause more roads to be closed. Overall, the county experienced $8.1 million in flood damages. 

“The OCRC appreciates MDOT and the Michigan State Infrastructure Bank for this loan to help restore and repair three roads that are still closed to residents, one storm sewer drain system, and four drainage culverts that were damaged beyond repair,” said Ryan DeHut, OCRC manager. “Securing this loan will facilitate repair of two critical sites this fall and allow the road commission to work with engineering services over the winter to develop plans to repair the remaining sites in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.”

A $2 million SIB loan will also go to the Village of Beverly Hills in Oakland County, supporting the local costs associated with projects identified in their $5.9 million Sidewalk Connector Program. These projects involve the installation of more than 6 miles of sidewalk in their community and are focused on “providing safe, walkable, and accessible infrastructure for nonmotorized users at all times.”

About the Michigan State Infrastructure Bank

The SIB loan program was established as a pilot program under Section 350 of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (NHS Act). The NHS Act authorized the creation of the Michigan SIB loan program to provide loans to public entities (county road agencies, cities, villages, or MDOT) for eligible transportation improvements.

The SIB loan program complements traditional funding techniques and serves as a useful tool to meet urgent project financing demands. The SIB is not able to be used to finance operating or administrative costs, nor is it intended to operate as a grant fund for transportation projects.

The goal of the program is to address customer financing needs in a timely and flexible fashion. Applications will be accepted year-round and will be evaluated by MDOT staff as quickly as possible. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Programs/Grant-programs/SIB.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     MEDIA CONTACT

August 22, 2023                                                                       Diane Cross

                                                                  [email protected]

 US-24 project: 7 Mile Road closing at US-24 (Telegraph Road) for rebuilding in Detroit Aug. 25 for two weeks

 DETROIT, Mich. ­– Starting Friday, Aug. 25, the US-24 (Telegraph Road)/7 Mile Road intersection in Detroit will be closed for two weeks while crews rebuild the intersection. The previously lane closures at this intersection were for the relocation of a water main.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25, eastbound and westbound 7 Mile Road will be closed at US-24 (Telegraph Road). All 7 Mile Road traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Eastbound 7 Mile Road traffic take eastbound M-5 (Grand River Avenue) northbound Lahser Road to get back to 7 Mile Road.
• Westbound 7 Mile Road traffic will take southbound Lahser Road to westbound M-5 (Grand River Avenue) to get back to 7 Mile Road.

During this work, US-24 (Telegraph Road) will have two lanes open in each direction. 7 Mile Road should reopen by Monday, Sept. 11.

Project details:

The Michigan Department of Transportation is investing $54 million to rebuild 1.4 miles of US-24 (Telegraph Road) between M-5 (Grand River Avenue) to north of M-102 (8 Mile Road). This two-year project includes rebuilding US-24, improving five bridges, drainage and water main relocation work, sidewalk ramp improvements that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), sign replacements, and traffic signal and lighting relocations from the M-5 (Grand River Avenue) intersection to the M-102 (8 Mile Road) area, where a diverging diamond interchange will be built to improve efficiency and enhance safety. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 653 jobs directly and indirectly.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     MEDIA CONTACT

August 10, 2023                                                                      Diane Cross

                                                                  [email protected]

 I-75 project update: Resurfacing and repairs continue; eastbound Holly Road lane closure over I-75 starts Aug. 14

 CLARKSTON, Mich. ­– The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) I-75 project between M-15 (Ortonville Road) and the Oakland/Genesee county line continues with resurfacing and repairing of the roadway along with bridge repairs and other improvements.

Beginning 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14, eastbound Holly Road will have one lane open over I-75 for bridge repairs, with a temporary traffic signal.

Current closures:

• Rattalee Lake Road is closed over I-75 for bridge repairs until late September.
• Grange Hall Road has one lane open over I-75 for bridge repairs until late August.
• Belford Road is closed over I-75 for bridge repairs until early September.
• Southbound I-75 has the left lane closed from Baldwin Road in Genesee County to Clarkston Road in Oakland County.
• Northbound I-75 has the left shoulder closed from Clarkston Road to Baldwin Road.
• Holcomb Road is closed over I-75 for bridge repairs until Monday, Aug. 14.

Updates:

• Davisburg Road has been opened over I-75. 

MDOT is investing approximately $160 million to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years.

Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure.

Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,936 jobs.

MDOT marks 10 years of Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program

 Fast facts:
– MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP) is celebrating its 10th season.
– The TDRP offers Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students hands-on experience in civil engineering and other opportunities toward a career in transportation.
– MDOT has produced a new video featuring two successful students of the program.

LANSING, Mich. ­- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently celebrated the 10th season of its successful Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP) with a program showcase. The goal of the TDRP is to recruit and introduce underrepresented groups of students to transportation-specific career opportunities. The program offers Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students hands-on experience in civil engineering and other opportunities toward a career in transportation.

State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich reflected on the first decade of the program. “The TDRP, I think, is just one example of how we’re building diversity, equity and inclusion into the fabric of what we do. It’s opening the door, where in the past (these students) might not have ever had these opportunities maybe that I had when I was coming up. We need to make sure that we’re expanding the pipeline as much as we can across the industry and the TDRP is an excellent way of making sure that we’re tapping all the resources we need.”

“I’m very happy that MDOT came up with the initiative to recruit students like me,” said Peter Oyewale, an Alabama A&M University student and TDRP intern in MDOT’s Southwest Region. “I’m an international student from Nigeria and when I came to the U.S., I knew it was going to be hard for me to get an internship because I didn’t have a U.S. experience.”

Zaya Wright, a second-year TDRP intern from Southern University and A&M College, commented on her experience with the program. “An opportunity like this doesn’t come as often as people would think. I think this program means a lot, especially to students coming from HBCUs who really don’t have that representation. It has led me to meeting some amazing people and creating some amazing job opportunities for myself.”

The TDRP runs from May to August each year. Requirements include being an engineering undergraduate student enrolled at an HBCU with at least a 2.0 GPA. Go to the program website at www.Michigan.gov/MI-TDRP for more information, or contact TDRP Program Coordinator James Jackson at 517-206-9369 or [email protected].