Gov. Whitmer, MDOT outline $143 million M‑14 corridor work and open construction season

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared in a Michigan Department of Transportation video news release at the M‑14 construction site to announce the official start of construction season and highlight a major highway investment.

Whitmer said, "Today, we're at the construction site at M 14 to officially kick off the start to construction season," framing the release as a seasonal launch tied to recent state road funding. She credited a roads deal passed last fall for allowing the work, saying it was done "to keep drivers safe, to create jobs and to save families money."

Adam Penzenstadler, identified in the video as MDOT Taylor TSC manager, detailed the scope of the M‑14 corridor project. "The $143,000,000 investment in this corridor supports more than 1,200 jobs," he said. Penzenstadler said the project is more than 60% complete and "rebuilds nearly 4 miles of freeway," and that the corridor carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day.

Penzenstadler listed specific upgrades included in the work: rehabilitation of 17 bridges; installation of nearly 21,000 feet of sewer lines to improve drainage; and transportation‑management technology improvements, including four new cameras, three vehicle detection systems and nearly 33,000 feet of fiber‑optic cable. He also said the project includes reconstruction of the I‑275 Metro Trail from just south of 5 Mile to Hines Drive.

Whitmer emphasized worker safety and asked motorists to be cautious. "So drivers, when you hit the road this spring and summer, we ask that you slow down and pay attention," she said, closing the release with a reminder that construction season is officially open.

The video release combined on‑site remarks from the governor and technical details from MDOT with drone footage of the M‑14 work zone and agency graphics.