Michigan's 2026 Road Construction Season Brings Major Projects to West Michigan Counties

Governor Whitmer Proclaims Start of Construction Season With Nearly $2 Billion Investment

LANSING — Michigan's 2026 road construction season officially began on Wednesday as Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a long-term funding plan that will add nearly $2 billion for state and local road work across the state.

The bipartisan investment package, signed into law last year, is designed to maintain and improve Michigan's transportation infrastructure while supporting schools and other essential services.

With the start of construction season, we will fix more of the damn roads in communities across Michigan, Whitmer said in a statement.

Since Whitmer took office in 2019, the administration projects it will have repaired more than 26,500 lane miles of road and nearly 2,000 bridges. The administration has cited seven balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $31 billion in roads and bridges statewide since 2019.

West Michigan Counties Hit Hard With New Projects

Across west Michigan, road work is planned in Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Lake and Manistee counties through a combination of state and local projects.

In Mason County, the Michigan Department of Transportation plans resurfacing work on U.S. 10 between Brye Road and U.S. 31, according to MDOT project information. In Oceana County, MDOT has scheduled bridge work on U.S. 31 over the Pentwater River.

State officials said these projects are part of Michigan's trunkline system — which includes interstates and U.S. and M routes — and are managed by MDOT.

Additional work is also planned on local roads through county road commissions and municipalities. In Mason County, the Mason County Road Commission has scheduled multiple road projects as part of its annual program. In Muskegon, city officials have announced reconstruction and infrastructure work on several streets, including Catherine Avenue and Lakeshore Drive.

While these local projects are funded and managed separately from state highway work, they are often carried out during the same construction season and may overlap geographically.

Jobs and Economic Impact

One MDOT spokesperson said the $143 million invested on the M-14/I-96 project in southeastern Michigan will support more than 1,200 jobs. The project is more than 60-percent complete and includes rebuilding 4 miles of highway, revamping 17 bridges, and installing sewer lines to improve drainage.

It's a big deal, and it's going to be making a big difference in people's lives. It means a safer, smoother drive to work, school, or the store, fewer tires popped, axles broken or cracked rims, Whitmer said. It means more time to be where you want to be instead of being stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow, and it means thousands more good paying union jobs for Michigan.

Long-Term Funding Plan

The long-term road funding package is part of the Rebuilding Michigan Plan, introduced in 2020, which funds major highway reconstruction projects. The long-term funding is intended to maintain support for schools and other essential services while increasing investment in roads, transportation and infrastructure.

It's never done. You're always rebuilding, and we let it go for so long without a real, you know, infusion of sustainable dollars, and so this represents a big step forward, Whitmer said about the road investment.

What Motorists Can Expect

Officials said motorists should expect traffic delays, lane closures and detours throughout the construction season. The three-year project on M-14 is expected to be completed in November, with restoration scheduled for the spring of next year.

The governor's office notes that the work will focus on the westbound direction of M-14, including the median and all of the lanes. Substantial completion is anticipated at the end of the year, with restoration in the spring of next year.

Statewide Impact

MDOT Director Wieferich warned against tolling scams during the press conference, reminding Michiganders that the department does not operate any toll roads and does not send text messages demanding toll or traffic ticket payments.

The department's website provides current road work and closures information, as well as an interactive road work map. Michigan residents can also view a list of all planned construction projects for the current season through the Michigan Department of Transportation construction project map or by visiting local municipality websites.

Since 2019, the governor and Legislature have approved seven balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $31 billion in roads and bridges statewide. The administration projects these investments will continue to support Michigan's transportation infrastructure through the end of the 2026 construction season.