Michigan state officials said crews are clearing deteriorating pavement on westbound I-496 in Eaton County, as the first project in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program continues near Lansing.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) produced a YouTube video highlighting work currently completed, as well as public benefits yielded from MDOT’s partnership with local road agencies.
“This freeway has been held together with patches and emergency repairs for too long,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “This is the first of the Rebuilding Michigan initiative that is rebuilding roads, so commuters know they will have a smooth and reliable ride for many decades to come. I look forward to long-term fixes like this across the state over the next few years.”
The I-496 endeavor served as one of 122 projects on heavily traveled state-owned highways made possible or placed on an accelerated timeline bond via financing approved by the State Transportation Commission in January, per authorities.
The $60 million project’s scope of work includes rebuilding the freeway and ramps, preventive maintenance on all the bridges in the project area, and making operational improvements to the entrance and exit ramps at the I-96, Creyts Road and Waverly Road interchanges.
MDOT is requesting anyone seeking more information about the I-496 project visit www.Michigan.gov/496Lansing.