The Michigan Department of Transportation on Wednesday recapped a series of completed transportation projects across the state, describing investments in roads, bridges, pedestrian facilities and construction‑zone safety that officials said improve connectivity and support local economies.

Speaker 1, an MDOT presenter whose name and title were not stated in the transcript, described projects ranging from a nearly $26 million reconstruction of 2.2 miles of M‑72 and M‑22 in Traverse City to a roughly $250 million final phase of restoration on I‑696 in Metro Detroit. "We want everyone to arrive alive," Speaker 1 said, urging motorists to slow down and watch for workers as the agency shifts into the 2026 construction season.

Why it matters: MDOT officials framed the work as investments in safety, access and economic opportunity. Several projects included pedestrian and nonmotorized elements, transit stop improvements and drainage upgrades, which officials said enhance downtown access and community connectivity.

The agency highlighted these notable projects:

- Traverse City: MDOT rebuilt a 2.2‑mile section of M‑72/M‑22 from Division Street to Cherry Bend Road in a nearly $26 million project that added a roundabout at the M‑72/M‑22/Bay Street intersection, improved drainage, upgraded transit stops, installed pedestrian hybrid beacons, added pedestrian refuge islands and improved sidewalks and shared‑use paths.

- I‑496/US‑127 (Lansing/East Lansing): Year two of a multiyear project rebuilt about 3.7 miles of southbound lanes from the I‑496 interchange to the I‑96 interchange. MDOT described the $205 million effort as targeting safety issues, traffic flow and bridge repairs.

- Fruitridge Avenue (Walker): A $30 million bridge and interchange reconstruction at I‑96, done in partnership with the city of Walker, replaced a bridge dating to 1961, widened the crossing from two to five lanes and added a nonmotorized path. The project received a $25 million legislative grant.

- M‑26, Ontonagon County: MDOT resurfaced 5.5 miles of M‑26 (from US‑45 to the M‑38 intersection) in a $6.5 million project that included culvert replacement, drainage work and new curb and gutter. In Mass City, a new left‑turn lane was added to calm traffic and improve access to local businesses.

- US‑131 interchange (Kalamazoo): Two new ramps and bridges expanded the US‑131 interchange north of Kalamazoo under a $19 million project MDOT said was advanced with help from state Sen. Sean McCann, Rep. Julie Rogers and former U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.

- I‑696 Reuther restoration (Metro Detroit): In its final phase, the multi‑year project rebuilt eastbound I‑696 between M‑10 and I‑75, installed a median barrier, repaired bridges and rebuilt the Church Street plaza bridge, which will include Victoria Park. MDOT said economic modeling estimates the project will support about 2,400 jobs in the region.

- I‑475 (Flint): A $141 million investment rebuilt three miles of roadway from the Flint River to Carpenter Road, including a new bridge over the Flint River. MDOT said funding included support from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program.

- Manistee River rail bridge: MDOT oversaw construction of a $33 million rail bridge replacement in Liberty Township, Wexford County, to replace a nearly 140‑year‑old span. MDOT said the project involved its Office of Rail, the Bureau of Bridges, Great Lakes Central Railroad and the Federal Railroad Administration.

- US‑23 (Mackinac City): MDOT deployed what it described as the largest use of driver assistance devices (DADs) in the US‑23 work zone to help drivers leaving resorts and businesses safely enter and exit the work area.

Speaker perspective and community reaction: Multiple speakers (labeled in the transcript as Speakers 3–8) praised the improvements, saying projects connect neighborhoods, parks, schools and businesses and expressing gratitude for state investment and contractor work. "It's been really eye opening to see first how much infrastructure goes into something that we use so regularly," Speaker 8 said.

What’s next: MDOT said the 2026 construction season will begin soon and reiterated its request that motorists slow down and pay attention in work zones. The agency also thanked employees, contractors and consultants who worked on the projects.

Note on sourcing and transcript language: This article follows the transcript's attributions. Where the transcript used terms that appeared to be transcription errors (for example, a phrase rendered as "bridal" in reference to a bridge structure), the article uses standard roadway terminology ("bridge" or "bridge replacement") to reflect the project described in context.