LANSING – State Representatives Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) and Steve Lindberg (D-Marquette) today announced that three Upper Peninsula counties will receive about $9.1 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation to repair and rehabilitate roads, which will create jobs for our workers and get our roads back in shape after a tough winter.
"My top priority as a State Representative is creating jobs for our hard-working residents and jumpstarting our economy in the Upper Peninsula," Lahti said. "Roads keep us connected – they connect workers to jobs, students to schools and family to family. By ensuring they are well-maintained, we will make our communities stronger and healthier."
In Lahti's district, Ontonagon County will receive nearly $5.5 million to crush, reshape and resurface US-45 from the Gogebic County line to M-28 near Bruce Crossing, and $2.5 million for hot-mix asphalt overlays on US-141 from Crystal Falls to Basilio Road. In Lindberg's district, Alger County will receive over $1.1 million for hot-mix asphalt overlays on M-28 from AuTrain Easterly to Christmas, while an additional $500,000 will be allocated to various counties around the state for guardrail replacements, including work along M-28.
The projects are part of a $147.7 million statewide economic stimulus campaign announced today by the governor that will accelerate local construction projects. The plan will add 2,100 jobs statewide and boost both local and state economies.
"This plan puts Michigan residents to work, and that's exactly what we need here in the Upper Peninsula," Lindberg said. "By accelerating local construction projects, we are not only making our roads better -- we are also giving our local economy the boost it needs."