LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) – In a continued effort to “fix the damn roads,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has established the Michigan Infrastructure Office.
The new office will serve to ensure resources the state receives from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan – formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – are “used effectively and efficiently.”
Whitmer announced the new office on Thursday, saying “since day one, I have been focused on fixing the damn roads,” the catchphrase she often used in her 2018 campaign.
“I am proud of the progress we have made,” Whitmer said, noting the state has repaired more than 13,000 lane miles of road and more than 903 bridges since she took office.
The state will receive billions of federal dollars from the IIJA to build on that progress, Whitmer said.
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The Michigan Infrastructure Office will be making sure that money goes to the right places as officials look to modernize the state’s infrastructure for the future. The major focuses include:
• repairing roads and bridges
• replacing lead pipes and service lines
• expanding high-speed internet
• building up Michigan’s electric vehicle charging network
The Michigan Infrastructure Office will “be responsible for organizing and executing the governor’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshalling resources, and partnering with local official, federal partners, outside stakeholders to invest in Michigan’s infrastructure.”
Whitmer says the new office will help the state “move full steam ahead toward continuing to improve commutes, keep families safe on the road and create tens of thousands of good paying jobs.”
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