Governor Whitmer Kicks Off Orange Barrel Season Across State

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Spring has officially arrived in Michigan, and so has the state's most visible construction season. Governor Gretchen Whitmer marked the start of the 2026 road construction season Wednesday at an event in Plymouth, signaling that thousands of new projects will break ground across the state.

The governor, dressed in a fluorescent vest and hard hat, moved an orange barrel and pushed some gravel at an M-14 construction site to launch the six-month warm weather repair season.

"With the start of construction season, we will fix more of the damn roads in communities across Michigan," Whitmer said. "I ran on fixing the damn roads, and I am proud to keep my promise and get it done with this year's balanced, bipartisan budget. We're making a historic nearly $2 billion investment to fix state and local roads, create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and lower costs for drivers across Michigan. We have a lot of work to do, so let's move some dirt and fix those damn roads!"

Nearly $31 Billion Invested Since 2019

The Whitmer Administration says that through seven balanced, bipartisan budgets, more than $31 billion has been invested into fixing Michigan's roads and bridges since Whitmer took office in 2019. Officials estimate that 26,500 lane miles of road and almost 2,000 bridges will be repaired between when Whitmer began her term and the end of the 2026 construction season.

The current construction season is part of a long-term road funding package announced in October 2025. That package allocates nearly $2 billion annually into Michigan's state and local roads, with funding designed to protect schools and other essential services.

"The start of construction season isn't just good news for our roads, it's good news for Michigan families, Michigan workers, and Michigan communities," said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. "This boost in investment was decades in the making, and it happened because leaders finally put Michigan ahead of politics."

Projects Underway Across the Region

The M-14 project in Wayne County has been a focus of the state's recent infrastructure work. The three-year reconstruction project on M-14 is expected to be completed in November. The work includes rebuilding roads and bridges, along with improvements to the I-275 non-motorized pathway and several major ramps at the interchange.

"Thanks to the governor's Rebuilding Michigan program, MDOT was able to rebuild this segment of M-14 and some of the state's most heavily traveled freeways across the state," said Adam Penzenstadler, manager of MDOT's Taylor Transportation Service Center.

Across the state, road commissions have announced their 2026 priorities. The Ottawa County Road Commission plans to install three roundabouts, overhaul two bridges, and complete four resurfacing projects. The Allegan County Road Commission has six major road resurfacing efforts on its slate.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is repairing bridges over US-131 at 144th Avenue near Dorr, as well as I-196 over the Kalamazoo River east of Saugatuck.

Funding Details and Controversies

The road funding package includes eliminating the sales tax on fuel purchases and replacing it with a separate gasoline tax, ensuring all taxes collected at the pump go to roads. Some corporate tax revenue is also being used for road projects.

However, a significant portion of the funding relies on revenue from a new wholesale tax on cannabis products. That tax is currently being challenged in two separate lawsuits filed by the state's recreational marijuana industry. Industry representatives argue the wholesale tax violates a 2018 voter initiative because the Legislature did not adopt it with supermajorities and exceeds the sales tax rate set in the Michigan Constitution.

"There's nothing sustainable about the road funding plan," said Rose Tantraphol, spokesperson for the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association. "It was established through an unconstitutional process and sets up a tax structure that is illegal. The road funding compromise singled out the cannabis industry and has already triggered business closures and job losses. Undercutting one industry isn't going to raise the revenue that the state hopes to raise."

Safety Focus in Road Work Zones

With construction season underway, the state is also emphasizing safety for motorists traveling through road work zones. Alex Doty of the Ottawa County Road Commission warned drivers to be aware of safety protocols in road work areas.

The long-term funding package, paid for with money from last year's bipartisan road deal, represents what Whitmer calls her "Get-Shit-Done" Tour priorities. The tour is focusing on sharing Michigan's progress over the past seven years while listening to Michiganders about their needs.

As construction crews break ground on hundreds of new projects across the state, the orange barrels are expected to become a familiar sight for Michigan drivers throughout the spring and summer months.