LANSING—Governor Granholm and Senator Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) announced yesterday that the 38th Senate District—which covers the Upper Peninsula other than Chippewa and Mackinac Counties—will receive $9,626,000 in road project funding as part of the Governor’s 2008 Economic Stimulus Package.

“This is a huge shot in the arm for the Upper Peninsula, and will generate the economic growth the Governor’s plan is intending on,” said Sen. Prusi. “So much of the Upper Peninsula economy relies on our roads, including tourism, recreation, and our forest products industry. This infrastructure funding will make sure they’re open for business and running smoothly while bringing much-needed new jobs to the area.”

Ontonagon County will receive $5,486,000 for rehabilitating and reconstructing US-45 from the Gogebic County Line to M-28 near Bruce Crossing. Alger County is getting $1,140,000 for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay on M-28 from Autrain easterly to Christmas, and Iron County is getting $2,500,000 also for HMA overlay on US-41 from Crystal Falls to Basilio Road. Crossing through multiple counties, there will also be $500,000 worth of guardrail replacements on M-28/M-73 to improve safety. All the projects were moved up from 2009 and 2010 to this July.

The Governor’s Road Project Stimulus Package includes $150 million in building projects for necessary roads and buildings. The package also will create 2,100 additional construction jobs over the next two building seasons—with better roads as the result of our investment. The package is made possible by refinancing existing debt and bonding to take advantage of lower interest rates.

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Sen. Prusi serves on the Senate Finance, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs, Judiciary, and Energy Policy & Public Utilities Committees. He represents the 38th Senate District, which includes all Upper Peninsula counties west of Luce County.