LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Counties across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will see a combined $30 million increase in state funding for local road and bridge repairs under the state’s new budget.
According to data from the Michigan Department of Transportation, each U.P. county will receive at least a 35% funding increase compared to last fiscal year. The largest boosts go to Marquette County ($4.1 million), Chippewa County ($3.3 million), and Houghton County ($2.9 million).
State Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) said the investment is a long-awaited step toward addressing deteriorating infrastructure across the region.
“Investing in infrastructure like roads not only improves our daily lives, but it also strengthens the economy,” Bohnak said. “If we don’t have good roads, we can’t get anywhere. This $2 billion is a great step forward for critical infrastructure here in the Upper Peninsula and across Michigan.”
The new road funding is part of a $2 billion statewide allocation included in the 2025 fiscal year budget, which Bohnak said resulted from negotiations between the House and Senate.
Bohnak added that the increased funding will help local road commissions tackle long-delayed maintenance projects, making travel safer for residents and tourists alike.
“Each county in the Upper Peninsula had at least a 35% increase in road funding over last year,” he said. “It’s exciting to finally get more funding so we can get to this infrastructure problem.”
The lawmaker also emphasized the importance of pairing infrastructure investment with reliable, affordable energy to support economic growth, particularly around industries like mining.
“If we don’t have reliable and affordable energy, we have nothing up here,” Bohnak said. “We could lose potentially hundreds of jobs if our grid isn’t strong.”
Bohnak said he expects local road commissions to determine specific projects for the new funding in the coming months.
