Legislative Watch 
LEGISLATIVE
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11/21/05-Gov. Jennifer Granholm has announced that Michigan will speed up funding for about 160 road and bridge projects in the next two years and another 22 projects in the following three years.
The state also will leverage the $270 million-per-year increase in federal road funds, which was included in the new six-year federal Highway Bill approved this summer.
All told, Michigan is counting on more than $600 million in transportation spending in the next five years. The additional funds would boost the Michigan Department of Transportation’s five-year transportation plan to about $8.9 billion.
Construction work in the next two years will take place in 59 counties throughout the state. They include repairs or resurfacing more than 600 lane miles and 42 bridges.
The plan also includes six capacity improvement projects, which include new roads or lane expansions.
The revised five-year plan includes an average of about $1.36 billion in annual road and bridge spending, The AP reported. It also includes an average of $60 million a year for targeted safety improvements.
State lawmakers will need to approve moving some projects forward and provide the state match for federal funds.
