Advocacy News – Aug. 10, 2022
In a continued effort to focus on Michigan’s aging infrastructure and growing needs, the Michigan Chamber is continuing to underscore the importance of a modern system of roads and bridges to support a growing economy. Unprecedented levels of state and federal funding have been allocated to ‘fix the damn roads.’ In federal resources alone, Michigan expects to receive an extra $250 million to $350 million a year, on top of the $1 billion annually it had been receiving before the latest Congressional infrastructure law passed.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has stated that the additional money will expedite projects already in the pipeline, but how are historic inflation and ongoing supply chain challenges affecting projects and potentially eroding the added investments? Where does all that material come from? Is Michigan well positioned to use the surge of taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively?
This series’ installment identified three key projects in Southeast Michigan that can help answer these questions. In the city of Detroit, for example, construction of both the new Hudson Site and the Gordie Howe International Bridge have highlighted the value of statewide citing standards and the need for increases in domestically-mined aggregate material. The amount of aggregate material that had to be imported for the projects is substantial, with over 100,000 tons of 2NS sand for concrete work and 60,000 tons of gravel to line landfills and protect against leachate.
In Metro Detroit’s Macomb County, the needed re-construction of Mound Road is estimated to require nearly 350,000 tons of aggregate material. Yet the closest source of this material currently available is in Brown City located over 50 miles away.
All three projects highlight the need for a better process to sourcing construction materials. High inflation only adds to this challenge, as increased prices and costs eat away quickly at the boost in funding. Again the bipartisan legislation of Senate Bills 429-31 would help ensure Michigan can be as fiscally responsible as possible by streamlining the process for sourcing this in-demand material right here in Michigan with clear rules and standards for permitting that will help dollars go further, fixing more roads and bridges, while protecting the environment.
To learn more or suggest an infrastructure project for the Chamber to highlight, contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.