LANSING, MI — July 19, 2025 — Road crews and orange barrels will be back in force as several new construction projects begin across Michigan on Monday, July 21, continuing Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s push to modernize the state’s aging roads and bridges without raising taxes.

“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement this week.

She added: “By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime.”

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) confirmed that multiple repairs, resurfacing, and bridge upgrades are lined up this week to keep vital infrastructure on track for summer targets.

New Road Projects Starting This Week

M-26 Bridge Over Eagle River (Keweenaw County)

‍Starting Monday, July 21, crews will remove the old asphalt surface, install new waterproofing, and lay fresh pavement. Work is expected to continue through August 8, with possible lane restrictions and short delays.

Oversized Load Move: Escanaba to Cedarville

‍On Tuesday, July 22, drivers should plan for slowdowns as contractors transport an oversized load along eastbound US-2, northbound M-117, eastbound M-28, southbound M-129, and eastbound Swede Road to northbound Quarry Road.

M-30 Resurfacing (Saginaw County)

‍Also beginning July 21, MDOT will resurface 4 miles of M-30 between M-46 and South County Line Road. This $906,000 project is slated to wrap up by August 22, weather permitting.

US-45 Culvert Replacement (Ontonagon County)

‍Starting Tuesday, July 22, contractors will replace a culvert north of Rockland. Traffic will detour via M-26 and M-38 until Friday, July 25, to keep vehicles moving safely during the work.

Where to Check for Closures

Drivers can view all up-to-date closures, detours, and real-time conditions statewide by visiting MDOT’s interactive Mi Drive map at www.michigan.gov/drive.

More Road Ahead

The upcoming repairs are part of the governor’s larger “Rebuilding Michigan” plan, which has poured billions into overdue infrastructure upgrades across urban and rural communities alike. As the summer peak construction season rolls on, more drivers are reminded to watch for crews, obey work-zone speed limits, and expect brief delays when traveling through active construction zones.

Residents can sign up for weekly updates and localized road alerts through MDOT’s email and text notification service, or follow @MichiganDOT on social media for quick updates.

Originally reported by Jalen Williams in Detroit Free Press.