Michigan roads
Articles
Opinion | Could tolls be the answer to fix Michigan's roads, bridges?
Lansing's interest in tolling has gone back decades but this year the state Legislature and Gov. Whitmer's administration have taken big steps to make it a reality.
Opinion | People are dying. Fix the damn road safety laws in Michigan.
Fixing the roads is important to Michigan residents. But enacting safety laws for road workers is even more vital.
Michigan closing budget gap with layoffs and cuts to roads, PFAS cleanups
The Michigan Senate agreed to cut spending and use up federal dollars to bridge a hefty budget gap caused by the coronavirus. The next budget is due at the end of September.
Michigan roads still stink, and the coronavirus makes them harder to fix
New ratings show Michigan roads are still bad and its bridges are getting worse. The coronavirus pandemic has already decreased gas tax revenue needed to fix them.
Driver hurt by concrete chunk. It fell from a bridge Michigan deemed safe.
Michigan has more than 447 bridges that are in rough shape. The piece of concrete that fell and injured a driver in Lansing on Thursday wasn’t one of them, compounding fears of crumbling infrastructure.
Opinion | Michigan, let’s make a road finance movie
There is a legitimate role for bond financing in road construction and maintenance, but that is to accelerate construction, not as a source of funding. Without a new revenue stream to finance the debt, the state would only be borrowing against future revenue, the guest author writes.
Michigan roads are infamously bad. But sewers and dams are in rough shape too
Even with new funding to pay for roads, Michigan’s infrastructure is aging rapidly. Solutions are not only expensive but politically divisive in an era of divided government.
Fact Squad | Dueling ads take on Gov. Whitmer and those damn Michigan roads
Is Gretchen Whitmer a hero for borrowing billions to fix highways or has she already broken a central campaign promise? Michigan Fact Squad investigates ads reaching opposite conclusions on the governor.
Michigan OKs $3.5B in roads spending. Much of it is going to Metro Detroit.
One day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she will borrow money for roads fixes, a state commission approves the measure that will send 40 percent of projects to southeast Michigan.
Highways win, local streets left ‘in the dust’ by Whitmer’s $3.5B roads plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's new plan to "fix the damn roads" by issuing $3.5 billion in bonds would help rebuild Michigan highways without a tax increase but saddle the state with decades of new debt.
Frustrated Gov. Whitmer vows no more ‘games’ with GOP on fixing Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in her second State of the State, says she’ll work around recalcitrant Republicans to fix roads, maintain Affordable Care Act protections and ensure students don’t repeat the third grade because of the reading law.
Michigan may study whether tolls are solution to state’s awful roads
Plenty of obstacles remain, but the Michigan Senate wants to study whether tolls could help fix roads. The proposal comes as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce her new plans for road repairs.
Michigan voters: Roads stink, but don’t ask us to pay for fixes
Michigan voters say roads are getting worse, but they aren’t ready to open their checkbooks to fix them, according to a new statewide poll that points to distrust in state government.
Crashes, injuries spike after Michigan boosts freeway speed limits to 75 mph
More drivers are going over 80 mph – and crashing – since Michigan raised speed limits to 75 mph on rural freeways in 2017. But backers say worst fears about new limits haven’t materialized.
New year, old problems: Six issues Michigan leaders vow to tackle in 2020
As they return to Lansing this week, Michigan’s leaders are faced with tough questions on how to improve roads, education, skilled trades and more.
Michigan’s roads have turned to crap. So has a strike among road builders.
A months-long union worker strike at one of Michigan’s largest road building firms has delayed some pavement projects and shows no signs of letting up as the summer construction season nears an end.
Opinion | Is it time to increase taxes in Michigan?
If Michiganders want quality services, higher taxes seem appropriate and perhaps necessary, writes a Michigan State University professor of economics.
Hate Michigan roads? Your neighbors’ may be way better. (with database)
Yes, Michigan has bad roads, but their quality varies widely throughout the state, according to 2018 rankings of road conditions, which may inform lawmakers’ debate about whether to raise taxes for upgrades.
Michigan’s Republican Legislature sends budgets to Whitmer — vetoes expected
A one-time road funding increase and cuts to the Secretary of State’s office are among the Republican budget decisions that Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has strongly opposed, and may veto.
Michigan Legislature, Gov. Whitmer head for showdown on roads, redistricting
Republican-led House and Senate committees approve road funding at levels well below what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has demanded. Constraints placed on Secretary of State and Attorney General offices may also draw pushback from the governor.