A new report says Michigan needs to spend billions of dollars during the next decade to make significant improvements to the state’s county roads and bridges.
The report, entitled the County Road Investment Plan, comes from the County Road Association of Michigan. The association is made up of county road officials who oversee about 75% of Michigan’s roads.
According to the County Road Investment Plan, the data shows more than 64% of local and primary county roads (31,000 miles) ineligible for federal aid are in poor condition.
Association Director Denise Donohue says it will take an additional two billion dollars a year for the next ten years to address the problem.
“That’s what it’s gone to take to properly fund the county road system going forward,” says Donohue.
Donohue says their goal is to turn 60% of local, nonfederal aid-eligible roads into good to fair condition by 2029. These roads currently have an average rating of 36% across all counties.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders agree more road funding is needed. But they disagree on how much and where the additional income should come from.
