RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with a Project Starting This Week in Arenac County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

April 21, 2025

Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with a Project Starting This Week in Arenac County

LANSING, Mich. —  Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin bridge repairs this week in Arenac County. Based on economic modeling, this $2.7 million investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 26 jobs.

“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,” said Governor Whitmer. “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. This year, let’s build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan, so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs.”

Sterling Road Bridge Improvement Project in Arenac County

MDOT will begin improvements on the Sterling Road bridge over I-75 and M-33 over Lake State Railroad/Old M-76 in Arenac County. Work will include concrete substructure patching, resealing bridge joints, steel rocker bearing realignment, steel beam repairs, heat straightening, painting and temporary supports. Work will progress south to other structures in the project area.

County:	Arenac
Highways:	I-75 M-33
Closest cities:	Sterling, Alger
Start date:	Monday, April 21, 2025
Estimated end date:	October 2025
Traffic restrictions:	Work is expected to begin on the Sterling Road bridge over I-75 and the M-33 connector before moving on to other structures in the project area. Southbound I-75 will have the left lane closed under the Sterling Road bridge. M-33 traffic will be maintained with temporary signals. During the work on M-33, the northbound I-75 exit ramp to the eastbound M-33 connector will be closed. Traffic restrictions for future locations during this project will be announced in advance.
Safety benefit:	This work will improve and extend the service lives of these structures. Lane closures during this type of work are necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists.

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