LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Warmer Michigan weather means more construction crews will be on the roads.

“Allow me to introduce you to the “orange barrelius,”” Whitmer tweeted alongside a photo of orange traffic cones. “Our unofficial state flower that signals progress in Michigan. It’s construction season, people!”

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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) lists 47 major road and bridge projects, which is warns “can last several months or longer, and may involve significant delays.” The site provides a map of road closures, maintenance vehicles, and other potential traffic hazards.

MDOT’s most recent Five-Year Transportation Plan (2023-2027) budgets $15.8 billion for transportation investments, the majority of which will be put toward the Highway Program. The plan has three primary targets: Equity and Inclusion, which aims to distribute benefits equitably around the state; Transportation Resilience, which aims to reduce long-term costs of maintaining infrastructure; and Complete Streets/Multimodal, which aims to improve nonmotorized paths such as bike lanes.

“While MDOT has made significant progress over the past year, the impacts of the pandemic still present challenges to program implementation, including supply chain disruptions, increased material costs, and labor shortages,” said Paul Ajegba, MDOT Director. “As a resilient and adaptive department, we are working to mitigate these issues so projects can continue to move forward despite such pressures.”

Consumer Affairs reported in March that Michigan roads remain below average, ranking at #20 (from worst to best) among U.S. states. This is up 11 spots from the previous year.

Some commuters remain dissatisfied with recent progress. A survey from September 2022 found that nearly 40% of Michigan voters believe road conditions stayed the same throughout the first four years of Whitmer’s governorship.

“Michigan roads: because who needs a boring, smooth drive when you can have a thrilling, off-road adventure on your way to the grocery store?” tweeded Mike Dell, a Traverse City resident. Another Michigan-based account posted a photo of a Jeep rolling over logs and wrote: “Smoother than some of the roads in Michigan.”

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A survey conducted by the County Road Association of Michigan found that although Michigan’s local roads did improve slightly in 2022, the change won’t be enough to keep up with existing infrastructure.

“We simply cannot catch up with the funds presently available,” said CEO Denise Donohue. “More Michigan transportation funds in this budget cycle are the answer.”

Meanwhile, in Northern Michigan, a recent study by Networks Northwest found that only 30% of local roads have the “good” rating, with 35% either “fair” or “poor.”

“Compared to this year, it’s actually about the same,” said Hannah Yurk, Community Development Manager. “I would say for the good roads the percentage was less this year.”

As repair work continues, Whitmer has designated a “National Work Zone Awareness Week,” which kicked off on Monday.

“Across Michigan, you’ll see road workers fixing roads and bridges, and we all have a role to play in keeping them safe,” she tweeted. “When traveling through a work zone, remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive safe—it saves lives.”