June 6, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced $18.5 million will be spent over the next three years in road projects to improve safety and access to Michigan International Speedway (MIS), including $7.5 million in accelerated projects. The announcement is the result of an agreement between the Granholm Administration, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), MIS, and local lawmakers, in cooperation with the Michigan State Police. The projects will create more than 60 new jobs.
 
“Hundreds of thousands of people visit MIS every summer, these investments will provide them with better access and safer roads when they travel to the track,” Granholm said. “We are continuing to put people to work today to improve our infrastructure, making Michigan more attractive to businesses and tourists.”
 
The accelerated projects will center along US-127 and US-12 and will coordinate with scheduled race weekends at MIS over the next three summers, with construction beginning as early as fall 2006. The accelerated projects will be paid for with a combination of federal safety dollars and Transportation Economic Development funding.
 
“By accelerating these projects and making improvements along two key corridors in south central Michigan, it confirms our commitment to the economic vitality that MIS brings to the state in Jackson and Lenawee counties,” said State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle. “We hope these improvements will be greatly welcomed by race fans and make travel easier and safer to and from MIS on race day.”

“This is a great day for the race fans that attend events at Michigan International Speedway,” said MIS President Brett Shelton. “The fans are the real fuel that makes MIS the economic juggernaut for Michigan tourism. This announcement is a good first step toward an even better future.” 

The accelerated projects along US-127 and US-12 will:

• Widen a 0.5 mile section of US-12 from M-50 west to Gate 8 at MIS ($1 million). This project will be added to a $5.3 million project currently underway along US-12, including resurfacing, intersection improvements and minor shoulder widening along the corridor from US-127 to M-50.

• Improve the intersection of US-12 and US-127 ($1 million). This work will be included with a $5.7 million project already scheduled for the 2007 construction season that involves resurfacing US-12 from US-127 west to Moscow Road in Lenawee County.

• Widen the shoulders along US-127 from approximately M-50 south to Vicary Road in Jackson County, along with other safety improvements to the corridor ($5.5 million). This would provide an additional race day travel lane for motorists to use.

All planning and design for these US-127 corridor improvements will begin in 2006 with construction scheduled to be completed in advance of the 2009 race season.