LANSING — The Michigan Department of Transportation says more than 100 state trunkline bridges could close by 2035 if lawmakers don’t act on long-term funding.
MDOT officials say two-thirds of the state’s bridges have already outlived their design life. That includes the M-14 and US-23 Business Route bridge over the Huron River in Ann Arbor, built in 1956. Engineers say replacing a bridge of that size would cost about $150 million — nearly four times the department’s yearly bridge budget.
In the University Region alone, which covers nine counties, 99 bridges are in poor condition, and 33 could close within the next decade.
Without new funding, MDOT projects nearly 3,000 fewer construction jobs in 2026, along with more traffic disruptions and slower freight movement across Michigan.