Here are samples of coverage generated by yesterday's press release regarding MDOT project delays. A pdf of the stories is available at the bottom of this page.

12.08.09. BCE. MDOT. Bridge work at risk
The Michigan Department of Transportation announced last week a statewide revenue shortfall is crippling the state's ability to come up with its share of cash to procure $475 million in federal road funds.

MDOT said certain road and bridge projects may have to be delayed or canceled because of its $84 million revenue loss for 2011.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091208/NEWS01/912080316/MDOT++Bridge+work+at+risk

12.08.09. LSJ. 18 road projects in Eaton, Ingham counties face delays
Budget crunches at the state and local levels are delaying road work projects in Michigan, according to a report released Monday by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association.

Eighteen road and bridge projects in Ingham and Eaton counties are among 243 projects statewide that reportedly will be delayed as the state grapples with a budget shortfall.

The delays include two road projects and 16 bridge projects on thoroughfares as commonly used as the Lake Lansing Road overpass on U.S. 127 and Interstate 96's overpass of Cedar Street in Lansing.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20091208/NEWS01/912080319

12.07.09. Flint JRN. MITA says two Genesee County bridge projects delayed
The projects include a substructure repair of I-69 over Dort Highway and a bridge replacement on Corunna Road over Mistequay Creek, MITA said in a news release today.

The Flint Journal could not immediately reach MDOT officials for details or further comment.

MITA said 243 projects statewide have been delayed in the state's draft, five-year plan, which was issued last week.

A spokesman for the organization said the delays show Michigan's transportation funding system is in a state of crisis.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/12/mita_says_two_genesee_county_b.html

12.07.09. WZZM. Kent and Ottawa road improvements could be delayed
The state of Michigan is losing its ability to match federal spending dollars and that is why the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is cutting 26 road and bridge projects in Kent and Ottawa Counties, according to a group that focuses on improving Michigan roads.

According to the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, MDOT is having to delay 243 road and bridge projects. In West Michigan, that includes a restoration of 28th Street SE from M-37 to I-96, a widening of M-104 from 124th Ave. to I-96 and adding a lane to US-31 From Lakewood Blvd. north to Quincy Street.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=116466&catid=14

12.07.09. TCRE. Funding crisis delays road projects in region
Michigan's transportation funding crisis could delay more than half of the state highway reconstruction projects in northern Michigan and shelve some county road projects dependent on state funding.

The Michigan Department of Transportation's five-year plan for the 24 northern-most counties in the lower peninsula calls for repairs to 94 of 1,962 miles of state highway and 2 percent of the region's bridges by 2014, if funding is available.

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_341235131.html

12.07.09. GRP. MDOT warns it will delay 243 road projects unless MI lawmakers increase funding
The Michigan Department of Transportation is looking at delaying 243 proposed road and bridge projects, including 26 in Kent and Ottawa counties, over the next five years unless the state comes up with the cash to match available federal funds.

The proposal is part of MDOT's draft five-year plan for 2010-14.

While $1.44 billion is designated for highway construction and maintenance in the current budget. that is expected to drop to $593 million in 2010-11 if the state can't come up with another $84 million, according to MDOT.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/12/mdot_warns_it_will_delay_243_r.html

12.07.09. WLNS. Road projects in jeopardy
Hundreds of road projects are put on the back burner all because the state doesn't have the money to do them. The Michigan Department of Transportation released its 5 year plan, and missing from it is about 250 road projects. The good news-:fewer orange barrels on the road. The bad: many bumps and potholes could be here to stay.
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11636343

12.08.09. Cadillac news. Road commissions prepare for winter
Road commission managers say they are ready for whatever Mother Nature brings over the next couple of days.

With the first winter storm of the season potentially dropping the first significant snowfall on the area, Missaukee County Road Commission Manager Kelly Bekken said his drivers are ready.

http://www.cadillacnews.com/story_news/?story_id=1267242&year=2009

12.07.09. Holland Sentinel. MDOT warns money running out for MI roads
Michigan officials are delaying future road projects because of dwindling revenue.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says in a recent report that lack of money has forced it to consider dropping more than 100 road projects and a similar number of bridge projects off the drawing board from 2010 through 2014.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1355825796/MDOT-warns-money-running-out-for-Michigan-roads

12.07.09. Ann arbor.com. Budget constraints delay Washtenaw County Road projects
State budget constraints are delaying several Washtenaw County road and construction projects.

The Michigan Department of Transportation’s proposed 2010-2014 Five-Year Transportation Program lists 243 statewide road projects. They were scheduled to be completed within the next five years, but will now be postponed indefinitely.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/budget-constraints-delay-construction/

12.07.09. WDIV. Wayne Co. Road projects may be delayed
A new five-year plan by the Michigan Department of Transportation proposes the delaying of 36 road and bridge projects in Wayne County.
MDOT said it has already been forced to delay 243 road projects because of the continued decline in state gas tax revenues and the state's inability to match federal dollars. The delays are in addition to 137 projects MDOT said it delayed in the spring.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/21889396/detail.html

12.07.09. WWMT. Funding troubles delay road projects
With winter weather hitting West Michigan, M-DOT crews will be working hard to keep the roads clear.

Salt trucks and snow plows will be out in force as another winter storm bears down on the region.

Meanwhile, M-DOT's plans for bridge and road repair, starting in 2011, are taking a major hit.

Over 200 projects are now being delayed because of budget problems, those delays come on top of another 137 projects delayed in the spring. Some of the delays are expected to have a major impact in West Michigan.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/troubles-1370103-michigan-0in.html

12.07.09. WILX. MDOT may delay hundreds of road and bridge projects
Michigan officials are delaying future road projects because of dwindling revenue.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says in a recent report that lack of money has forced it to consider dropping more than 100 road projects and a similar number of bridge projects off the drawing board from 2010 through 2014.
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/78740932.html

12.08.09. WJRT. AP. Michigan roads
MICHIGAN ROADS
MDOT warns money running out for Michigan roads

LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan officials are delaying future road projects because of dwindling revenue. The Michigan Department of Transportation says in a recent report that lack of money has forced it to consider dropping more than 100 road projects and a similar number of bridge projects off the drawing board from 2010 through 2014. The state could lose hundreds of millions in federal highway dollars each of the next five years because it can't raise enough to receive all its matching funds. It could go from spending more than $1.4 billion annually on highways this year with the help of federal stimulus money to less than $600 million three out of the next four years, costing thousands of highway jobs. Road builders said Monday that lawmakers need to raise more money soon.

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/state&id=7158741

12.07.09. BC times. 407 million slated for MDOT Bay Region
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to spend $407 million in the next five years around the Great Lakes Bay Region, according to a 2010 - 2014 Draft Transportation Program report.

12.08.09. Oakland Press. MDOT holds 243 road projects
With state funding for road projects decreasing for the fifth year in a row, the Michigan Department of Transportation is temporarily nixing 243 statewide projects, including several within Oakland County.

“This is a very, very troubling report that we see; we’re going in the wrong direction,” said Keith Ledbetter, director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, a statewide trade organization.

The report released by MDOT outlines 243 road and bridge projects that will be delayed in addition to the 137 projects slated for delays by MDOT earlier in the year. The 243 projects were originally scheduled for completion within the next five years.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/12/08/news/local_news/doc4b1e24c2baeda253447188.txt

12.07.09. Fox 2. MDOT warns money running out for MI roads
Michigan officials are delaying future road projects because of dwindling revenue.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says in a recent report that lack of money has forced it to consider dropping more than 100 road projects and a similar number of bridge projects off the drawing board from 2010 through 2014.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/latest_video/MDOT_Cuts_Road_And_Bridge_Projects