Circular solution for reconstruction of Michigan highway
Michigan Paving & Materials (MPM) recently completed a transformative three-year, $210 million project to reconstruct more than 24 miles of Interstate 69 (I-69)
Partnering directly with the Department of Transportation, MPM led both the design and engineering phases of the project—an approach that streamlined workflows and delivered significant time savings. The result is a modernized stretch of highway that will enhance safety, improve traffic flow and support long-term infrastructure resilience across the region.
Project Snapshot
Location: Michigan, USA
Product Type: Asphalt
Rebuilding 24.5 miles of I-69 ahead of schedule
The Michigan Department of Transportation (Michigan DOT) needed a 24.5 mile, 50-year-old section of Interstate 69 (I-69) to be reconstructed. The interstate was in disrepair caused by wear and tear due to its 91,000 daily motorists.
As one of the largest asphalt pavers in Michigan, MPM was up to the challenge, to design, engineer and manage the reconstruction of I-69 and its many interchanges and bridges. MPM worked directly with Michigan DOT, overlapping much of the design and construction phases, to expedite the project timeline, which was originally planned as four separate projects over 10 years. MPM completed the project in a third of the time originally planned by the Michigan DOT.
Local resources, rapid result
With intense planning, hard work and a commitment from the MPM team, subcontractors and suppliers delivered the project in just over three years. Leveraging its three asphalt plants, all within 30 miles of the job site, the integration of MPM’s materials and construction services helped expedite the completion of work.
Smart, sustainable paving upgrade
In total, 750,000 tons of asphalt was produced and placed. In addition, 425,000 tons of existing concrete pavement was recycled via a portable crushing plant on site, and repurposed as aggregate base material, resulting in significant cost savings for the Michigan DOT.
Using asphalt proved a successful option for the Michigan DOT, after conducting a Life Cycle Cost Analysis to determine the pavement’s cost-effectiveness over time. The speed of construction also proved advantageous, and the new asphalt paving is expected to last more than 25 years.
Results
The highway opened to the public in November 2023. It has since been awarded a National Asphalt Paving Association (NAPA) Quality in Construction Award and named in the Roads & Bridges trade publication as a top road in America for 2024.