$13.9M will reopen critical corridor, supporting the expansion of small businesses, U-M

Washington, DC  – Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $13.9 million to the Ann Arbor Bridges project. This funding will allow the City of Ann Arbor to reconstruct a critical corridor connecting downtown to  the University of Michigan (U-M), Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan. Congressman Dingell has been fighting on behalf of the community for this project with the Department of Transportation for more than a year.  In addition to numerous calls and letters to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Congressman Dingell brought Deputy Secretary John Porcari back to Ann Arbor to meet with officials and see the poor condition of the bridges for himself.    

“I want to commend Secretary LaHood and Deputy Secretary Porcari for recognizing the great need the City of Ann Arbor has in reconstructing the bridges along East Stadium Boulevard.  This corridor serves as a critical to link to one of the strongest and most successful parts of Michigan’s economy.  The City of Ann Arbor and the University serve as a leader in the State of Michigan for small business spin-offs, academic talent, and innovative research, and this reconstruction will enable this success to continue,” Dingell said.

The Ann Arbor Bridges support a crucial east-west regional corridor, carrying over 48,000 vehicles per day, connecting to the nation’s largest athletic arena – the Big House - with over 109,000 fans, and connecting the University’s 42,000 students and more than 35,000 employees, which have played an integral part in the University Research Corridor.  The University has contributed over $1 billion in research expenditures last year, and played integral role in the University Research Corridor, which has contributed $14.8 billion in economic stimulus to Michigan since 2007.  The bridges have deteriorated to the point where traffic is limited to one lane in each direction, and now have a Federal Sufficiency Rating of 2 on a 100-point scale.  This funding will save the citizens of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan in excess of $33 million each year in each year in delay, vehicle operation, and crash costs.

“The Ann Arbor Bridges project serve as an example of how critical infrastructure projects are to economic development in Southeast Michigan,” Congressman Dingell said.  “Michigan cannot continue to attract new business development without making our communities safe and accessible to future employers, employees and their families and I am pleased shovels will be hitting the ground as soon as possible.  I am pleased this project enjoyed wide support from the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, the University of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, our two Senators and Congressman Schauer.”

Congressman Dingell also secured $450,000 in the fiscal year (FY) 2011 Transportation, House and Urban Affairs Appropriations bill, which passed the House by a vote of 251 to 167 on July 29, 2010.  The Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, John Porcari, visited the Ann Arbor Bridges project at Congressman Dingell’s request on May 14, 2010.
 

City of Ann Arbor Engineer Homayoon Pirooz and Mayor John Hieftje describes the state of the Ann Arbor Bridges to Deputy Secretary Porcari, Congressman Dingell, Ann Arbor City Councilwoman Margie Teall, and Washtenaw County Road Commission Chair David Rutledge.