The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in the US is set to invest $120.8m in transportation improvements as part of its 2013 construction programme.

The projects include $82.5m in road and bridge investments and $35.5m in preventive maintenance projects that will keep a considerable number of roads and bridges in good condition through minor repair work. An additional $2.8m will be invested on trails, pavement markings and signal projects.

MDOT Bay Region engineer Robert Ranck Jr said that the department aims to improve the freeway system, while increasing system reliability and traveller safety and mobility.

The MDOT Bay Region includes 13 counties in the Saginaw Bay area, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola.

Major state trunklines in the region are I-75, I-69, US-127, US-23, and US-10, which are the primary tourism and international trade routes that serve industrial centres within the Flint area and the Great Lakes Bay Region, along with the Mt. Pleasant and Thumb areas.

"The department aims to improve the freeway system, while increasing system reliability and traveller safety and mobility."

Major Bay Region projects scheduled for 2013 includes improvements on I-69 in Genesee County and Lapeer County; works on I-75 in Genesee County and Saginaw County, developments on M-13 in Bay County; M-13/M-84 in Bay City, Bay County; and improvements on M-15 in Genesee County.

Other projects will be done on M-20 in Isabella County, M-25 in Tuscola County, M-53 in Bad Axe, Huron County, and US-10 in Midland County.

During 2013, MDOT will also continue its ongoing investment in intelligent transportation systems throughout the Bay Region.

Electronic signs, cameras and detectors currently are being installed along I-75 from Auburn Hills to Grayling, and on I-675, I-475, US-10 and US-127 in order to provide motorists with real-time information on the road.