State of the Roads: Department of Roads showcases progress and plans to enhance Macomb County’s transportation infrastructure

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – Officials from the Macomb County Executive Office and the Macomb Department of Roads (MCDR) provided an overview of the current state of the roads, highlighted progress that was made in 2024, and previewed the agency’s plan for 2025, which includes more than $83 million in road, bridge and traffic improvements.

As Michigan’s third most populated county and home of the sixth largest road system in the state, MCDR is responsible for the management of more than 1,700 miles of county roadways, 225 bridges, 830 culverts, 900 traffic signals, 350 traffic cameras and 60,000 traffic signs.

“From maintaining critical infrastructure and building the roads of tomorrow to monitoring real-time traffic and signal operations, the work of the Department of Roads is essential to ensuring safe travel for the public and supporting the growth and transportation infrastructure needs of our region,” said Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel. “Through data-driven management, we know how many infrastructure assets we have in Macomb County, the condition they are in and how much funding we need to fix them. We will continue to make strategic investments while we advocate and apply for additional state and federal resources to address the funding needed to fix all of our roads and bridges."

Adequate funding, dedicated investment and efficient planning are needed to build the transportation infrastructure that will serve Macomb County for decades to come. Macomb County has made historic investments in roads and bridges in recent years while incorporating the use of the latest traffic technology to bolster MCDR’s existing strategies and programs while identifying additional opportunities to promote safety and enhance the county’s roadways.

“Public safety is our number one priority and is at the core of everything we do. We are constantly exploring, evaluating and implementing technologies, strategies and projects that strengthen our infrastructure and enhance safety for all road users in Macomb County,” said Macomb County Deputy Executive John Paul Rea. “Macomb County is a leader in transportation safety and emerging mobility deployments and is equipped to solve logistical and safety challenges and improve the movement of people and goods in Macomb County.”

While Macomb County has made notable progress, current funding levels are not sufficient to address the more than $2.5 billion needed to improve every road and bridge in the county. MCDR utilizes funding from the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) through Public Act 51, the Highway Trust Fund, the Federal Highway Administration, MCDR’s fund balance, cost share agreements with local government agencies, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for some state trunkline maintenance.

“Due to the limits of funding availability, we take a comprehensive approach to transportation asset management with a focus on public safety, community needs and financial responsibility,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “To get the most out of the funding we receive, the Department of Roads has implemented innovative programs to make strategic investments that enhance Macomb County’s roads, bridges and traffic network.”

Innovative Programs

With limited funding and the needs of the region continuing to grow, MCDR’s annual programs are strategically focused on maximizing available funding and utilizing a mix of creative solutions to strengthen and enhance transportation infrastructure under Macomb County’s jurisdiction.

Maintenance. MCDR performs maintenance work year-round. The maintenance program includes crack sealing, patching, pothole repair work, maintenance of gravel roads, snow and ice removal, mowing, street sweeping and other road related maintenance.

Construction. The construction program includes the design, engineering, construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction of primary and local roads under Macomb County jurisdiction. MCDR works with all local municipalities within Macomb County and meets regularly with local community leaders to identify and prioritize transportation infrastructure improvements, including planning and budgeting for construction projects.

Pavement Preservation. MCDR uses a mix of preventative maintenance measures on primary and local roads best suited for each individual situation including asphalt resurfacing, concrete repair, crack sealing and chip sealing. Program projects are funded and selected at the discretion of MCDR at no cost to local communities.

Local Bridge. The local bridge program includes the reconstruction, rehabilitation and preventative maintenance of bridges under Macomb County jurisdiction. Work within this program includes bridge replacement, superstructure replacement, deck replacement, structure rehabilitation, preventative maintenance, deck patches, beam end repair, epoxy overlay, bridge beam painting and bridge joint replacement work.

Subdivision Reconstruction. To provide funding assistance to local townships for rebuilding subdivision roads, the agency offers the subdivision reconstruction program. It is an application-based cost sharing program and MCDR covers half of project costs up to $500,000 per project ($600,000 starting in 2025). The program has an annual budget of $2 million ($2.5 million starting in 2025). Based on state law (Public Act 51 and Public Act 246), road agencies are required to obtain, at a minimum, matching funds from townships or other sources for the reconstruction of residential or subdivision roads under their jurisdiction.

Subdivision Preservation. To provide additional funding assistance to local townships for subdivision roads, starting in 2025 the agency will offer the subdivision preservation program. It is an application-based cost sharing program with MCDR funding 75% and townships funding 25% of construction costs for selected projects. The MCDR match is capped at $200,000 per project and the program has an annual budget of $1 million. The program provides cost‐effective solutions for short‐term improvements to community streets with minimally invasive work to quickly improve the drivable surface of the roadway.

Limestone. As part of the program, townships select which roads they would like to be graded with three miles of limestone applied annually to gravel roads in each participating township. MCDR covers 90% of the material costs and all labor costs and townships cover the remaining 10% of material costs.

Non-Motorized. In Macomb County, each city, village, and township are responsible for the construction and maintenance of all non-motorized pathways under their jurisdiction, whether it be through developers, property owners, or their local departments. To provide assistance to local communities for non-motorized pathways, MCDR developed the non-motorized program. The program is intended to align and administer the planning, development, operation and maintenance of non-motorized facilities within Macomb County’s right of way (ROW). The non-motorized program is an application-based cost sharing program with MCDR that allows local communities to increase local matching funds when applying for state or federal funding opportunities.

2024 Progress

Through MCDR’s strategic programs and transportation asset management best practices, the agency invested more than $100 million into Macomb County’s transportation network in 2024, which included:

• Road, bridge and traffic improvements on 72 primary and local roads
• 41 asphalt resurfacing and concrete pavement repair projects
• 9 bridge and culvert projects
• 7 subdivision reconstruction projects
• More than 1,400 miles of pavement markings applied to county roads
• 104,815 tons of limestone applied to gravel roads
• More than 665 signal timing changes to improve traffic efficiency
• The installation of more than 64 miles of fiber optic communications network to bolster MCDR’s advanced traffic network

Innovate Mound. The transformational $220 million Innovate Mound project opened on time and on budget in December of 2023 with final restoration and landscaping work being completed in 2024. The multi-year project, which broke ground in August of 2021, reconstructed approximately nine miles of the Mound Road corridor between I-696 and M-59 in Warren and Sterling Heights. The project included new pavement, drainage, curbs and driveways, traffic signal optimization, roadway widening north of 17 Mile Road, connected vehicle and fiber optic communications technology, enhanced non-motorized facilities and energy-efficient lighting.

Garfield Road extension. The second phase of the extension of Garfield Road in Macomb Township was completed in 2024. Construction work between 23 Mile Road and 25 Mile Road included a new road, new road drainage ditches, traffic light installation, utility modifications and restoration work. Phase one of the Garfield Road extension project, between 22 Mile Road and 23 Mile Road, was completed on time and on budget in 2023. Garfield Road is an important corridor that provides north and south access throughout Macomb County. The extension of Garfield Road is anticipated to enhance safety, improve traffic flow and ease congestion throughout the corridor.

Kelly Road reconstruction and rehabilitation. Significant work took place on Kelly Road as part of two projects in Clinton Township and Fraser. Reconstruction work between 14 Mile Road and 15 Mile Road included a new road, new road drainage infrastructure, traffic light installation, utility relocation and restoration work. The project was a carryover from the 2023 construction season and work was completed in 2024. Rehabilitation work was also completed between 15 Mile Road to South Nunneley Road and included the milling and removal of the existing road surface, base repair work, curb and gutter replacement, drive approaches and new concrete pavement.

2025 Preview

Looking forward, MCDR has an extensive mix of work and more than $83 million in infrastructure investments planned for 2025.

Romeo Plank Road. MCDR, in partnership with Macomb Township, will reconstruct Romeo Plank Road between 21½ Mile Road to 23 Mile Road. The proposed project is anticipated to ease congestion, improve traffic flow and increase the efficiency of Macomb County’s transportation network.

10 Mile Road. In partnership with Center Line and Warren, MCDR will reconstruct and rehabilitate more than 2.5 miles of 10 Mile Road between Ryan Road and Lorraine Avenue. The corridor provides key east and west connectivity in multiple Macomb County communities.

Garfield Road. MCDR, in partnership with Fraser, will reconstruct Garfield Road between 14 Mile Road and 15 Mile Road. The project will widen Garfield Road to three lanes with a northbound lane, southbound lane and a center turn lane. The project will include new road drainage, curb and gutter, concrete pavement, safety enhancements, traffic signals and replacement of the Harrington Drain.

Bridges. Work is planned on 10 bridges and culverts, including multiple bridge replacement, rehabilitation, and preventative maintenance projects throughout the county. Through strategic investments and capitalizing on state funding programs, MCDR has made significant progress on improving the conditions of Macomb County’s bridges. Of the 225 bridges under Macomb County jurisdiction, 201 (89%) are rated in fair or good condition, 13 (6%) are rated as poor and 11 (5%) are rated as critical or serious. Of the 18 poor, critical and serious rated bridges under Macomb County jurisdiction, MCDR has secured funding to rehabilitate or replace 10 of them within the next two years.

A full list of projects that were completed in 2024 and proposed projects that are anticipated to take place in 2025 are listed below. The public can stay up to date of what's happening on Macomb County’s roadways by signing up for real-time lane closures and construction updates online.

The Macomb County State of the Roads presentation and photos and video of MCDR’s 2024 maintenance, construction, and traffic operations are available online.