Gov. Whitmer Opens Miller-Rotunda Bridge, Highlights Administration’s Work to Fix the Damn Roads and Bridges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Opens Miller-Rotunda Bridge, Highlights Administration's Work to Fix the Damn Roads and Bridges

Through seven state budgets, the Rebuilding Michigan Plan, and the biggest roads deal in state history, the governor has delivered on her promise to fix the damn roads

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of the rebuilt Miller-Rotunda bridge in Dearborn. The three-year project rehabilitated the two connecting bridges, adding to the almost 2,000 state and local bridges repaired under the Whitmer administration following decades of underinvestment. The governor visited this bridge back in 2019, demonstrating the need for road and bridge investments and kicking off 8 years of successfully fixing the damn roads.

"I'm honored to reopen the Miller-Rotunda Bridge," said Governor Whitmer. "This is a full circle moment, as I visited this bridge during my first year as governor. Now, the rehabilitated bridge will connect Dearborn and grow our economy as a key artery for Ford's Rouge Complex. I'm proud of our work to fix more than 26,500 lane miles of road and almost 2,000 bridges across Michigan, supporting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and making Michiganders' commutes smoother and safer. Let's keep working together to fix the damn roads and bridges and build a bright future for Michigan."

"Building a stronger and more sustainable Wayne County has been a key focus of my administration since I first took office over a decade ago," said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. "The completion of the Miller-Rotunda bridge project as a primary example of our ongoing infrastructure improvements and upgrades exemplifies my vision of leaving behind a Wayne County that will be in much better shape than when I found it."

"It's been a thrill to see this much-need rehabilitation project go from the appropriations stage from my time in the State House to now reopening as a safer, stronger roadway for drivers," said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud. "The Miller-Rotunda bridge serves a critical corridor in our city. I am grateful to the efforts of MDOT and Wayne County in making this project possible."

"The Miller-Rotunda bridge project shows what can happen when public investment meets real community need," said state Sen. Sylvia Santana. "For too long, the condition of this corridor burdened residents in Dearborn and nearby communities. Its completion is a significant step toward safer travel and a stronger Wayne County."

"People deserve to drive on safe roads and infrastructure as they commute to work, school, or home. Just a few years ago, the Miller-Rotunda bridge was considered a safety hazard, putting drivers in my district at risk," said state Rep. Alabas A. Farhat. "Through serious investment, partnership, and hard work, we were able to rebuild this bridge so that it can safely serve residents and anyone else driving through Dearborn."

"The lasting impact of the bridge bundling program will be felt for decades, as these structures safely and reliably connect people, communities, and the economy well into the future," said MDOT Director Brad Wieferich. "While the bridges we've addressed represent only a fraction of those statewide with significant needs, efforts like the one we're celebrating today show that bridge bundling is an effective way for MDOT to share our technical and programmatic expertise with our local agency partners."

Annually, the Miller and Rotunda bridges are each crossed by over three million vehicles. The bridge was built in 1931, last rehabilitated in 1983, and held up by 500 wooden supports prior to the 2023 construction. The Miller and Rotunda bridges cross three rail lines and Ford Motor Company's River Rouge plant to connect southern and eastern neighborhoods, helping Michiganders access businesses, markets, and schools.

Fixing the Damn Roads

Since 2019, the governor and legislature have worked together to deliver seven balanced, bipartisan budgets that invest more than $31 billion to fix Michigan's roads and bridges. In 2023, Governor Whitmer secured $80 million for the Bridge Bundling program. The Miller-Rotunda bridge is the largest project in this program. This year, she proposed $1.6 billion in long-term funding for state and local roads with $100 million reserved for local bridges. This means smoother and safer drives to work, less money spent on car repairs, and more union jobs and reliable infrastructure for working Michiganders in every community.

As part of the bipartisan long-term road funding plan that the governor signed into law last year, the state is investing an additional $2 billion in Michigan's state and local roads. By the end of this construction season, the administration will have fixed more than 26,500 lane miles of road and almost 2,000 bridges, improving people's commutes, keeping Michiganders safe on the road, saving families time and money, and protecting tens of thousands of good-paying construction jobs statewide. These investments have been paired with actions to train thousands of workers for high-wage jobs, including in the construction industry.

###