Macomb County announces contractor for Innovate Mound

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Officials from Macomb County, the Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR), and the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren – joined by government and community leaders – announced the selection of Dan’s Excavating Inc. as the bid award for the $217 million Innovate Mound project. The multi-year project will reconstruct approximately nine miles of the Mound Road corridor with work phased over four construction seasons.

“The magnitude and impact of Innovate Mound is unlike any other local project in the U.S. and Michigan and showcases what can be accomplished when multiple levels of government work together to improve their community,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. “Once completed, the new Mound Road will strengthen the region and enhance connectivity by incorporating state-of-the-art design and smart technology to create a modern corridor that will serve our community for decades to come.”

Innovate Mound, a partnership between MCDR and the cities of Warren and Sterling Heights, is an initiative to rebuild one of the most important corridors in southeast Michigan and the U.S. The Mound Road project will include new pavement, drainage, curbs and driveways, traffic signal optimization, roadway widening, connected vehicle and fiber optic communications technology, enhanced non-motorized facilities, and energy-efficient lighting.

“We are excited and proud to be a partner on this important project that will deliver significant and noticeable enhancements to the residents, businesses and visitors of our community,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “Now that the contractor has been selected, we look forward to seeing progress on this transformational project.”

In 2016, more than 100 business and community leaders came together to support a long-term solution for Mound Road and build a next-generation corridor of innovation. A federal grant application was submitted in 2017, a collaborative effort spearheaded by leaders from state, county and local governments and businesses. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) selected the joint application by Macomb County and the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren for a $98 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant that is funded by Congress.

“More than five year ago, representatives from the Warren, Sterling Heights, and the Macomb County Department of Roads met to discuss the conditions and the future needs of the Mound Road corridor and its users,” said Warren Mayor James Fouts. “We are pleased to be a part of transforming a thoroughfare that serves so many in our region and state.”

Funding for the remaining project costs that are not being covered by the INFRA grant will come from Macomb County and the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren.

“The federal infrastructure grant that was secured by a collaborative community effort along with significant investments from Macomb County, Sterling Heights, and Warren will result in substantial corridor improvements that will strengthen and enhance Macomb County’s infrastructure and transportation network,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “Innovate Mound will rebuild and create a world-class corridor that will serve residents, motorists, and businesses for the next 30 years.”

The Mound Road corridor is a major artery for national automotive, defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. More than 70 major employers in the corridor depend on reliable roadways for their employees to commute to and from work and for just-in-time manufacturing and shipping. It is one of the most densely packed manufacturing regions in the U.S. that supports more than 200,000 jobs in Macomb County and across the state.

“We are proud to work on such an important project inspired by the innovation happening within the corridor every day,” said Joe Goodall, Vice President of Dan's Excavating, Inc. “We look forward to working under Macomb County’s leadership to develop and build a state of the art roadway and infrastructure that will serve our community for years to come.”

Construction details are being finalized by the contractor and Department of Roads with work anticipated to begin prior to the end of summer 2021. A construction schedule and additional details will be provided at a community groundbreaking event later this summer. For news and additional information, visit innovatemound.org.