The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) today announced that $274 million in contracts will be awarded in 2011 to improve 82 mi. of pavement and repair 105 bridges in the Metro Region. The Metro Region serves four counties —Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne, which account for about 40 percent of the traffic in Michigan.

The Metro Region 2011 program will provide approximately $180.5 million for pavement repair and roughly $93.5 million to upgrade bridges to good condition. This investment is possible because of Michigan’s ability to match federal aid for transportation improvements.

“These investments are vitally important to our area,” said Metro Region Engineer Tony Kratofil. “Not only do they make our roads safer, but they also provide a stable foundation for economic development which leads to job growth and retention.”

In addition to new projects announced for the 2011 program, several carry-over projects from 2010 will be completed this year. Those include upgrades at the I-94/I-696 interchange in Macomb County, the reconstruction of US-24 (Telegraph Road) in Oakland County, and the rebuilding of M-85 (Fort Street) in Detroit.

During 2011, the following high-impact projects are scheduled:

• In St. Clair County, a $90 million investment to widen and reconstruct more than 2 miles of I-94/I-69 between Lapeer Road and Pine Grove Avenue. Included in this project is the replacement of the Black River Bridge.

• In Oakland and Wayne counties, an $80 million project to rebuild more than 3 miles of M-39 (Southfield Freeway), between the M-10 (Lodge Freeway) interchange and McNichols Road. Included in this project is the repair/replacement of 24 overpasses between I-94 and M-10.

• In Wayne County, a $40 million reconstruction of M-85 (Fort Street) between Sibley and Goddard roads.

• In Wayne County, an $8.5 million upgrade on I-94, between I-75 and M-102 (Eight Mile Road), to resurface the freeway from M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) in Detroit to M-102 in Harper Woods, and replace the freeway lighting between St. Aubin Street to M-3 in Detroit.

• In Oakland County, a $21 million investment to resurface M-59 between Crooks and Opdyke roads. Included in this project is pavement repair to the ramps at the M-59/I-75 interchange.

• In Oakland County, an $8 million project to reconfigure and reconstruct the M-59/Crooks Road interchange, including the widening of Crooks Road between Star Batt Road and Austin Drive.

• In Oakland County, a $10 million investment to repair the bridges that carry I-96 over Kent Lake Road, Milford Road, and the Huron River.

• In Oakland County, a $4 million investment to resurface M-59 between Tipsico and Williams Lake roads.

• In Macomb County, an $8 million replacement of the M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) bridges over the Clinton River.

• In Macomb County, a $10 million project to repair nine bridges on I-696 between M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) and M-97 (Groesbeck Highway).

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