Why Michigan Roads May Never Catch Up Without More Funding

As if the endless construction plaguing the roadways here in Michigan wasn't bad enough, now our roadways are in the spotlight in another way. Hopefully in a good way. It does mean more construction, but that pothole won't his so hard knowing it could go away, right?

How Much Will Michigan’s Roads Cost to Fix?

The new 2025 County Road Investment plan is laying out just how much work and money it will take to get things back on track. It is estimated that roughly $4.5 billion will be needed a year to keep up "adequate performance" on our roads and bridges.

It's a number that could stop things from getting more, but may be more money than we will ever see in our lives.

The tough part of all of this is that the cost of doing business has skyrocketed everywhere. Since 2023, the price of repairing roads has jumped 32%. That's one-third higher in just two years. The dollars that used to work and pass off for long-term repairs just don't go as far as they used to.

Why Local Roads Are in Worse Shape

Have you heard of a PASPA road? It is a secondary road that just doesn't qualify for federal funding, and nearly two-thirds of Michigan's road network falls into this category. The condition ratings show that they are 20% worse than our main roadways.

The roads most of us rely on every single day are the ones that are in the worst shape, and they're not getting much help.

Lawmakers Face Tough Funding Decisions

The County Road Association says fixing the local roads should be a top priority. Lawmakers are already in talks of pushing forward funding to help resolve this issue. Otherwise, our roads will just continue to get worse.

There is something to fix the roads; however, the cost of everything has gone up, making it even harder to keep up what we have here in Michigan.