LANSING, Mich, - State Representative Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) today announced that the city of Adrian will receive a $375,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to reconstruct Beecher Street from M-52 to Treat Street. The $750,000 project will receive $375,000 from the state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF). The city of Adrian is providing a 50 percent match.
"It is important that we preserve our all-season local roads to provide business in our local communities with the access they need to major interstates and highways," Spade said. "This is especially true in Lenawee County where these access roads, rather than major expressways, are the lifelines of our industry. Last year the section of Beecher Street west of South Main Street was reconstructed and this is the crucial next step in the process of upgrading our older access roads."
This funding is part of a larger $2,509,400 in new state TEDF Category F grants which will be used to build or preserve all-weather routes in nine Michigan communities. The state funds will be invested in 2006 road construction in order to provide businesses with year-round access to state highways (I, M and US routes) and other important commercial routes.
Local agencies are providing a total of $2,344,826 in matching funds (48 percent) for a total investment of $4,854,225 for infrastructure improvements in urban areas of counties with a population of 400,000 or fewer. TEDF road projects include resurfacing, reconstruction, widening, road alignment and other upgrades considered crucial to economic development. The TEDF was enacted by the Michigan Legislature in 1987 to assist in the funding of highway, road, and street projects necessary to support economic growth. The Category F grants are used to expand or preserve all-season roads and improve safety on routes with a high percentage of commercial traffic in counties with a population of 400,000 or less.
"A strong economy needs a strong infrastructure to thrive," said Spade. "All-weather access is critical to keeping Michigan manufacturers competitive and open for business year-round. The businesses in our community, both large and small, will benefit from this strategic road improvement and it will pay off for years to come."