GAYLORD, Mich. — Michigan’s infrastructure is approaching a breaking point, with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) warning that more than 100 trunkline bridges could be forced to close by 2035 unless lawmakers pass a comprehensive funding solution. Officials say the closures would disrupt daily travel for an estimated 1.8 million drivers and stall critical progress on road and bridge improvements statewide.

In a recent video news release, MDOT highlighted the M-65 bridge over the Thunder Bay River south of Long Rapids in Alpena County as an example of the looming crisis. Built in 1953, the bridge was rated in poor condition during a July inspection due to deck deterioration and concerns about its foundation being undermined by heavy rain or strong river currents.

The structure’s potential closure would have direct consequences for emergency response. Long Rapids Township Fire Department Chief Darin Himes, whose station is just 200 yards from the bridge, explained the stakes:
“My concern for fire and EMS is the fact there are houses immediately on the south side of that bridge, within a stone's throw, you might say, from our station,” Chief Himes said. “And if those people are in need and they have an emergency, it would increase our response time to those residents and to those people significantly. In a life-saving aspect of it, time is everything.”

Across MDOT’s North Region, which spans 21 counties, eight bridges are currently listed in poor condition, with three projected to face closure by 2035. If that happens, more than 7,100 daily road users would lose access to key corridors. Replacing the M-65 bridge alone is expected to cost roughly $10 million — nearly double the region’s entire annual bridge replacement budget.

Statewide, the situation is even more alarming. About two-thirds of Michigan’s bridges have already exceeded their original design life, most of which was set at just 50 to 60 years. Rebecca Curtis, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Bridges and Structures (BOBS), noted during a recent Talking Michigan Transportation podcast that much of Michigan’s bridge system was built during the 1950s, meaning many are now deteriorating at the same time.

“At this rate, by decade's end, nearly 50 percent of state routes, which carry 53 percent of total traffic and 80 percent of commercial traffic, will be in poor condition,” said MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich. “Without additional investment, those projections will get worse.”

The financial strain is already being felt. With the conclusion of the Rebuilding Michigan bond program, MDOT’s annual road reconstruction budget will drop from $495 million to $222 million, cutting funding by more than half and reducing construction employment by about 2,800 jobs by 2026.

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Director Susan Corbin warned of ripple effects across the state’s economy.
“If there is no long-term solution to Michigan's road-funding crisis, considerable progress in recent years will be stalled, meaning contractors will employ fewer workers and road conditions will decline,” Corbin said. “The effects would spread across industries and communities, causing job losses, shrinking economic activity and creating long-term challenges for Michigan's workers and families.”

While bridge replacements are costly and can take two years to complete, they are viewed as long-term investments designed for an 80- to 100-year lifespan. MDOT leaders stress that delaying action will only make the financial and public safety challenges worse.

The department continues to urge policymakers to prioritize a sustainable transportation funding package in the coming legislative sessions. Without it, officials caution, Michigan risks widespread closures, economic setbacks, and growing threats to public safety on its roads.

Originally reported by Michigan Department Of Transportation.