You will learn in this article that Governor Janet Mills took a tour of the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge Project today when she was in Madawaska. This project will offer a vital connection between Madawaska, Maine and Edmundston, which is located in the province of New Brunswick. Also this week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) made the announcement that the next phase of the Rebuilding Michigan project will begin on Interstate 69 in Calhoun County. This investment will sustain roughly 2,667 jobs, according to the economic modeling that was done. In addition to that, the recent halt in building at Kellogg did not continue for very long. For the first time in many people’s memories, the heavily traveled east-west road in Wichita was free of construction for a short period of time in the month of December. An anticipated expansion project is scheduled to begin the following year, which signals a shift into high gear for the work to upgrade the roadway that was converted into a freeway. Meanwhile, Spokane Valley received $21.6 million in federal funds this week for a large construction project, an underpass, and other enhancements to boost public safety and economic growth.
The governor visits the Madawaska International Bridge construction site with DOT
Original Source: In Madawaska, Governor Mills Tours MaineDOT International Bridge Project
Since October 2017, the 100-year-old International Bridge has had a 5-ton weight limit, prohibiting travel for passenger vehicles and creating a diversion for residents and businesses. The Maine Department of Transportation is building a new bridge using state and federal funds. It will include wider driving lanes, shoulders on both sides, and a raised sidewalk downstream. The new bridge’s steel girders and concrete substructures will last 100 years. The new structure will connect to a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection land port of entry on the U.S. side of the border.
“Replacing the International Bridge supports the safe mobility of Americans and Canadians, as well as the strength of small businesses,” stated Governor Mills. My administration has made historic investments in Maine’s transportation infrastructure to assist ventures like this one. I commend Maine DOT for its hard work and look forward to the project’s completion.
The cost is $97.5 million. In 2019, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration awarded this project a $36-million INFRA grant. Maine and New Brunswick share the remaining expenditures (NBDTI).
Governor Mills and the Maine Legislature’s extraordinary General Fund support gave MaineDOT $185 million in additional state money this year. This aid offset state Highway Fund revenue cutbacks caused by the epidemic and high inflation-driven building expenses. This year’s transportation investment eliminates bonding.
Commissioner Bruce Van Note thanked Governor Mills and the Maine Legislature for supporting Maine’s transportation infrastructure. State financing and federal support made this initiative possible. Our counterparts at the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure were terrific partners during planning, design, permitting, and construction.
MaineDOT and NBDTI collaborated to build this project. This project requires interaction with U.S. and Canadian federal agencies.
Reed & Reed, Inc. of Woolwich won the construction contract in April 2021. After the contract was awarded, construction commenced. New bridge to open by 2023, an old bridge demolition follows. This project’s deadline is June 30, 2025.
Whitmer’s Calhoun County project begins this week
Original Source: Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Project in Calhoun County Starting This Week
We’re improving roads around Michigan to save drivers time and money. This investment in Calhoun County will sustain 2,667 jobs and enable Michiganders to get to work, do errands, and explore safely, said Governor Whitmer. Since I assumed office, we will have invested 70% more in our roads than in the preceding four years to fix 16,000 lane kilometers of road and 1,200 bridges, sustaining 89,000 jobs. Both my Rebuilding Michigan Plan and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan help us develop a safe, reliable infrastructure. Let’s keep working hard; I’m proud of what we’ve done.
The next phase of I-69 rebuilding in Calhoun County
As part of MDOT’s $210 million investment to replace I-69 between Island Highway in Charlotte, Eaton County, and I-94 in Marshall, Calhoun County, I-94 will be closed intermittently to install the beams for the new 15 Mile Road bridge. This investment might support 2,667 jobs, according to economic models.
Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program funds this project to rehabilitate the state’s most important roadways and bridges. The investment approach improves the state’s infrastructure by extending its usable life.
Rebuilding Michigan’s bridges
Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist will have fixed, repaired, or replaced Michigan’s over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges by 2022 without raising taxes. The five-year, $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan plan and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together plan make these and future repairs possible. Future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to do errands, travel, and boost the economy thanks to these infrastructure investments.
The report details the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s unprecedented infrastructure investments.
FY 2023 Infrastructure Budget
Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s fourth balanced and bipartisan budget accelerates lead service line replacement, reduces traffic congestion at local rail crossings, improves state fish hatcheries, and funds long-overdue repair projects at state facilities. The budget will also improve Selfridge Air Force Base in Macomb County, invest in Innovate Mound, a project to rehabilitate Mound Road, one of Southeast Michigan’s most significant arteries, and modernize Michigan’s armories, which would bolster military readiness and boost local construction jobs.
$230 million project to enhance E. Kellogg commute starts next June
Original Source: $230M project to improve commute on E. Kellogg set to start next June
In Andover, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced a second phase of infrastructure investments, including extending Kellogg for nearly two miles from the K-96 intersection to just east of the Sedgwick-Butler County boundary. This $230 million project comprises widening K-96 in east Wichita to half a mile east of 159th Street East in Andover to six lanes.
The initiative is receiving local matches from Wichita, Andover, Sedgwick, and Butler counties. The Kansas Department of Transportation stated construction will begin next June.
Kelly said the extension is expected to improve traffic on a busy section of Kellogg heading out of Wichita.
“I relocated to Kansas in 1986 and my job carried me across the state, including Wichita,” Kelly added. “It drives me mad having to get off Highway 54/Kellogg and weave through cones all the time.” “Years,” the governor added. “It’s amazing to see this come to completion.”
The expansion of East Kellogg is part of IKE.
“Expanding and updating our highways will improve roadway safety, create excellent jobs, and bring more economic opportunities across Kansas, now and in the future,” stated Governor Kelly. These 11 projects demonstrate that investment in transportation benefits our communities, taxpayers, and companies.
Spokane Valley receives $21.6 million for key improvements such as an underpass
Original Source: Spokane Valley scores $21.6M for major projects, including underpass
Spokane: Spokane Valley received $21.6 million in federal funds this week for a large construction project, an underpass and other enhancements to boost public safety and economic growth.
“We’re happy,” stated Mayor Pam Haley. It’s a triumph for our city, area, and state. This project has been a major transportation priority for five years and will benefit our town.
She complimented U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Spokane, for their work on the grant.
They’ve battled for this initiative at the federal level, and it can’t succeed without them. Haley praised their efforts.
The Biden administration’s priorities match with RAISE financing for road, rail, transit, and port infrastructure. Expand access to safe drinking water, ensure every American has high-speed internet, fight the climate crisis, achieve environmental justice, and invest in communities that have been left behind.
Spokane Valley’s Pines Road/Burlington Northern Santa Fe Grade Separation project received government assistance. The construction zone is in a USDOT-designated Historically Disadvantaged Community with a 20% poverty rate.
“I’m glad the DOT sees the safety benefits of this initiative,” stated Rodgers. I applaud the city’s officials and everyone involved for their dedication and hard work.
The $40 million project entails replacing the Pines Road at-grade crossing with a new underpass to eliminate four hours of daily traffic congestion.
The intersection of Pines Road and Trent Avenue will be replaced with a multi-lane roundabout, and a shared-use path will be built under the railroad crossing and around the new roundabout.
The project includes a new trailhead and parking area with facilities, electric vehicle charging, and non-motorized access to the Centennial Trail and Spokane River. Avista Utilities contributed three properties worth $800,000 for the trailhead.
Officials believe the project will improve access to 170 acres of mixed-use or commercial property and 56 acres of valuable industrial property.
ECONorthwest estimated the economic and tax consequences as follows:
Spokane County’s economy generates $1.3 billion ($686 million directly).
Spokane County adds 8,719 jobs (4,312 direct job impacts)
Spokane Valley gets $8.2 million in new taxes (over 25 years)
Washington State’s general fund gets $101.9 million more (over 25 years)
Spring 2024 is slated for the project’s groundbreaking.
Spokane Valley spokesperson Jeff Kleingartner says the city received two more grant wins in July. Murray received $5 million in the 2023 draft Senate Appropriations bill, which will be discussed this fall or winter. Spokane Regional Transportation Council received $6.4 million.
Rogers announced last week that Spokane Valley, Pullman, and Spokane and King counties will receive RAISE awards.
Pullman will get $1 million to finish final planning documents for reconstructing 2.1 miles of airport road with a wider roadway segment, shared use bike path, intersection roundabout, and pedestrian sidewalk.
Spokane and King counties received $5 million to study reconfiguring I-90 in areas where it divides neighborhoods.
Summary of today’s construction news
In a recent report posted, the State Department of Transportation in Maine is now using both state and federal money to construct a new bridge. It will include widened lanes for cars to drive on, shoulders on both sides, and a higher sidewalk for pedestrians going downstream. The steel girders and concrete substructures of the new bridge are designed to last a century. The new structure will connect to a new land port of entry that will be operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection agency on the American side of the international boundary.
Meanwhile, the effort to rehabilitate the state’s most essential roadways and bridges is made possible through the funding provided by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program. This method of investment improves the state’s infrastructure by extending the amount of time that it can be used.
Additionally, a second round of infrastructure improvements was announced by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in Andover. One of these projects is the extension of Kellogg for approximately two miles, beginning at the interchange with K-96 and terminating just east of the boundary between Sedgwick and Butler counties. This project will cost $230 million and will involve extending K-96 from east Wichita to a half mile east of 159th Street East in Andover so that it has six lanes in each direction.
Moreover, this week, the city of Spokane Valley found out that the federal government would be providing $21.6 million for a major construction project that would increase public safety and boost the economy.
