By Staff
The Michigan Department of Transportation on Tuesday was touting the benefits a $212 million investment in southwest Michigan should bring.
Based on a study by the University of Michigan Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Economic Development Research Group Inc., more than 3,800 jobs are expected to be created or retained in Michigan and $1.5 billion will be returned to the economy as a result of this $212 million investment.
These projects will promote safety and continue to serve motorists, businesses and the local communities in the region for many years to come.
This continues a “commitment by MDOT and the Granholm administration to create jobs, improve the quality of life and provide the highest quality transportation services for Michigan residents and businesses.”
MDOT recently announced that $212 million will be invested in state highways and bridges throughout MDOT's nine-county Southwest Region during the 2006 construction season.
The investment will help preserve the existing infrastructure and improve access and mobility at several key locations.
Following is a list of “high-impact” projects that are part of this investment:
Bridge deck replacement on I-94 at Sawyer Road (Berrien County).
Construction of a new weave/merge lane on westbound I-94 between Pipestone Road and Napier Avenue (Berrien County).
Replacement of the Lovers Lane bridge over I-94 (Kalamazoo County).
I-94 reconstruction and widening, from west of US-131 to east of Oakland Drive (Kalamazoo County).
Road reconstruction and center left-turn lane construction on US-12 in Sturgis (St. Joseph County).
Westbound I-94 reconstruction, between M-51 and the village of Mattawan (Van Buren County).
M-66/M-79 intersection improvements (Barry County).
I-69 reconstruction, from south of A Drive North to north of I-94 (Calhoun County).
Two for Berrien County, two for Kalamazoo County and one each for Van Buren, St. Joseph, Barry and Calhoun counties.
Nothing for Cass County.