MDOT Projects Delayed by State Budget Issues

The state Transportation Commission approved MDOT’s newest 5-year plan Thursday.

It delays almost 250 road and bridge projects that MDOT wanted to tackle sometime between 2011 and 2014.

MDOT originally planned on working on 27 U.P. projects within that span.

Now that number will drop to just 7.

MDOT communications rep James Lake says it appears the state will fall more than $360 million short of being able to match federal funding.

The $360 million short on the state’s end means a loss of more than $2 billion from the feds.

MDOT estimates 90% of Michigan’s roads are in good shape, but the department says that could fall to 25% by 2020 with the lack of federal funding.