Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is requesting an additional $2.5 billion yearly to ensure that 90% of state road pavements are in good or fair condition by the fiscal year 2036. Greg Brunner, MDOT’s chief engineer, highlighted the issue by stating that if revenue does not change, roadway conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly. The anticipated annual investment for state trunkline projects is around $798 million until fiscal year 2040, which would result in less than 35% of trunkline pavement remaining in good or fair condition.

Brunner detailed the challenge while addressing the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, mentioning that MDOT's goal is to have 90% of the pavement in good condition. Achieving this target would require an additional $2.5 billion each year. The department is currently involved in reconstructing roads, which could last up to 40 years, and rehabilitation projects that extend the life of roads by 10 to 20 years.

Maintenance is a key focus for MDOT, which conducts capital preventative maintenance projects to extend the life of pavements. These preventative measures, explained Brunner, are five-to-ten-year fixes that include asphalt overlays or seals to prevent water penetration. Sen. Erika Geiss, chair of the committee, pointed out that the roads under discussion are managed by MDOT, which oversees only 8% of Michigan’s road network. However, this small percentage carries 80% of the state’s commercial traffic and 53% of all traffic.

In March, the Michigan House approved a $3.1 billion road funding plan, allocating $2.1 billion from the Corporate Income Tax for road projects. This move eliminates large-scale corporate grants. Meanwhile, the Democratic-controlled Senate is contemplating its own road funding initiative but has yet to reach a consensus.

"Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter."