Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used today's tour of the M‑14/I‑96 reconstruction in Plymouth to officially kick off Michigan’s construction season and spotlight a bipartisan plan she says will put roughly $2 billion a year into state and local roads. She pitched the funding as both a fix for long‑neglected highways and a generator of union construction jobs as crews work through the multi‑year M‑14 project. Drivers are being warned to expect lane shifts, ramp closures and detours as those budget promises turn into active pavement work this spring.
Whitmer highlighted what she called a long‑term funding shift that will deliver about $2 billion annually to state and local roads, according to the Governor's Office. She said the package is intended to make daily commutes safer and to support local construction jobs as road crews move into full spring work.
M‑14/I‑96 reconstruction: scope and staging
The M‑14/I‑96 project between Sheldon Road and Newburgh Road in Plymouth Township and the city of Livonia is a staged reconstruction that includes full road rebuilding, bridge rehabilitation, drainage and lighting upgrades, and a new Metro Trail segment, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Crews are shifting traffic onto rebuilt lanes to allow staging, and MDOT’s timeline shows restoration work stretching into 2027 to finish trail and shoulder improvements.
Local reporting has pegged the overall job at roughly $140 million. CBS Detroit notes that MDOT describes the work as a two‑year, $140 million project that the agency expects to directly and indirectly support about 1,336 jobs. The scale of the effort means the corridor, which MDOT says handles well over 100,000 vehicles a day, will see significant ramp and lane changes throughout the season.
“This year's work will focus on the westbound direction of M‑14, including the median and all of the lanes,” Adam Penzenstadler with the Michigan Department of Transportation told WXYZ, adding that the agency anticipates “substantial completion to be at the end of this year with restoration to be in the spring of next year.” He cautioned that the schedule remains dependent on the weather.
What drivers should expect
MDOT's project page warns drivers to be ready for overnight lane reductions, ramp closures and detours as traffic is shifted for staging, with several ramps near I‑275 scheduled to stay closed through late 2026. The site also lists temporary closures of the I‑275 Metro Trail along with staged detours for motorists, and it notes emergency lane and ramp closures earlier this spring because of deteriorating pavement. Motorists are urged to check MDOT’s live maps and detour information before heading into the corridor.
Why this matters
Whitmer and her allies point to the broader budget picture to defend the push. The governor’s FY27 materials project roughly 30,500 construction jobs supported each year as road funding ramps up, and they note that the administration has repaired tens of thousands of lane miles and nearly 2,000 bridges since Whitmer took office. Officials say those statewide numbers are the context for local jobs like the M‑14 rebuild as the state moves road money from budget documents to actual asphalt.
With spring work now underway, drivers in the Livonia‑Plymouth stretch are set to see a mix of closures and fresh pavement over the coming year. Officials are asking for patience and planning as crews work through a complex rebuild that the state says should ultimately deliver smoother and safer travel once it is complete.
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