WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, announced Thursday that the Michigan Department of Transportation has been awarded $20 million in discretionary grant funding to complete the US-31 relocation project from Napier Road to I-94 in Berrien County.

“We’re so excited to announce this project will be completed – finally,” said Upton. “For years, we have been working diligently with local, state, and national leaders to get this done. The Department of Transportation has long-said ‘hang on, help is on the way’ and that day has now come. Completing this project will ensure Southwest Michigan remains a hub for economic competitiveness, jobs, and growth now and into the future.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao echoed this sentiment.

“The Administration’s continued investment in infrastructure promises to stimulate economic investment, improve quality of life, and create safe, reliable transportation in our communities,” Chao said.

The grant comes from the Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grants program. This project will provide a free flow freeway traffic movement through the completion of the last two miles of the limited access US-31 freeway from Napier Avenue to I-94 in Berrien County. Upton has long supported completion of the project, a release stated.