Michigan announces major upgrades for UP highways

NEWS RELEASE

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

************************* MDOT to invest $153 million in Upper Peninsula in 2008-12

March 4, 2008 - The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) recently approved 2008-12 Five Year Transportation Program calls for $153 million in road and bridge improvements and preservation for MDOT's Superior Region - with more than $56 million planned in 2008. Of the 1,830 miles of state trunkline and 481 bridges in the Upper Peninsula, 164 miles of road and 11 bridges have projects scheduled in the next five years, totaling $42.7 million in improvements and Capital Preventive Maintenance (CPM) work.

Approximately $53 million was invested on similar projects in 2007. The 2008 Superior Region program includes $13.9 million for six projects advanced from future years as part of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's economic stimulus package.

Statewide, MDOT is accelerating nearly $150 million in road and bridge projects, which will create an estimated 2,100 jobs.

About 197 of those jobs would be created in the Upper Peninsula. "MDOT is committed to making improvements to our roads and bridges in the Superior Region, and preserving their condition for as long as possible," said Superior Region Engineer Randy Van Portfliet. "These projects are important to our state's transportation system and economy, and we do our best to maximize their benefit while minimizing inconvenience to motorists." Significant projects planned for the Superior Region in 2008 include: - Center turn lane construction, road reconstruction and resurfacing, railroad crossing replacement, and extension of passing relief lanes on US-41/M-28 from east of M-95 to west of Champion in Marquette County. This project also includes construction of a carpool lot at the US-41/M-95 intersection, and construction of a non-motorized pathway linking Champion and Van Riper State Park.

- Center turn lane construction on US-41/M-28 between Negaunee and Ishpeming along Teal Lake in Marquette County. - Resurfacing 6.8 miles of M-28 from M-123 to County Road 393 (Borgstrom Road) in Luce County. - Deck replacement on the US-2 Cut River Bridge in Mackinac County. - Resurfacing US-45 from the Gogebic County line to the Baltimore River in Ontonagon County. - Resurfacing M-64 from the Wisconsin state line to Marenisco in Gogebic County. - Passing relief lane construction on US-41 between Linsmier Road and County Road 338 in Menominee County. - Center turn lane construction on US-2/US-41 in Hyde, at the County Road 521 intersection in Delta County. - Resurfacing M-28 from M-221 to Mackinac Trail, and from 6 miles east of M-123 to Strongs Road in Chippewa County. - Resurfacing M-28 from AuTrain to Christmas in Alger County. - Resurfacing US-141 from Crystal Falls to Basilio Road in Iron County.

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Superior Region serves all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula: Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft.

Major state trunklines include I-75, US-41, US-45, US-2, M-26, M-35, M-95, M-117 and M-28. For a complete copy of the 2008-12 Five Year Transportation Program, visit MDOT's Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot5yearplan

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