LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. John Damoose on Thursday congratulated the city of Sault Ste. Marie on receiving a state grant for improvements and repairs to Meridian Street.
“I’m happy to see MDOT recognize the need for this funding in the Upper Peninsula,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “Many small towns, especially those in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, simply don’t have the resources to keep up with deteriorating roads, and these grants are critical to filling those funding gaps.
“These repairs will certainly improve access to the airport and local parks, while also improving roadway safety for the residents who drive these streets every day.”
A fiscal year 2027 grant in the amount of $375,000 has been awarded to Sault Ste. Marie to resurface Meridian Street from the I-75 Business Spur to West Eighth Avenue. The project includes cold milling and resurfacing the road, ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter replacement, and pavement markings.
Meridian Street is an all-season roadway serving an industrial area, Lake Superior State University and Sanderson Field Airport. This project will improve the road condition and allow commercial traffic to continue using the roadway safely.
The total project cost is $790,000, with TEDF Category F funding covering 47% of construction costs up to $375,000. Category F grants are competitive grants made to eligible road agencies to preserve and/or expand all-season road networks within the urban areas of rural counties.
The project also includes $415,000 in matching funds from the city of Sault Ste. Marie.
“Rural communities across the state rely on these types of grants to improve roadways, and I look forward to working with MDOT to secure additional funding in the future,” Damoose said.
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