The Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) announced the largest and most transformational road project in Macomb County history, Innovate Mound, was named the number five road project in North America by Roads & Bridges magazine.

As part of the trade publication’s annual Top 10 Roads Awards, the project was recognized for construction excellence and the use of creative funding solutions, innovative design and engineering, and emerging technology.

“The magnitude and economic impact of the Mound Road corridor is unlike any other local project in the U.S. and is the culmination of years of planning, community input and teamwork,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. “From securing competitive grant funding and incorporating state of the art traffic and safety technology to building a road that will serve the region for decades to come, the project showcases what can be accomplished when the community and multiple levels of government work together to get the job done.”

Hackel praised the MCDR for increasing safe and efficient transportation.

“I’m proud of the work the Department of Roads has done to strengthen the connectivity of our region and state and deliver a safe and smooth traveling experience for all Mound Road users,” Hackel said.

The $217 million multi-year project broke ground in August of 2021 and reconstructed approximately nine miles of the Mound Road corridor between I-696 and M-59 with work phased over four construction seasons — opening on time and on budget. The project is the result of years of planning and coordination between MCDR, Sterling Heights, Warren, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In 2016, more than 100 business and community leaders came together to support a long-term solution for Mound Road. A federal grant application was submitted in 2017, a collaborative effort spearheaded by leaders from the state, county, 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 was funded by Congress. The project received an additional $32 million from the state of Michigan in 2022.

“Innovate Mound includes the latest traffic and safety technology and high-performance pavement; we’ve built a high-quality, long-lasting roadway that will support a modern, efficient and reliable corridor,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “The project includes new capabilities that will create a corridor that is forward flexible to the evolving transportation and technology needs of the future, allowing Mound Road to be used as a test bed corridor for new and emerging mobility services.”

Innovate Mound technology and safety enhancements include signal modernization, connected vehicle technology, speed harmonization, wrong way detection, traffic congestion detection, pavement quality detection, and weather responsive service.

The project strengthened the county’s infrastructure network and enhanced connectivity by incorporating a state-of-the-art design and smart technology to create a modern corridor.

The reconstructed roadway reduces congestion in one of Michigan’s densest manufacturing areas and showcases the future of transportation safety and mobility with diverse data-smart traffic management strategies, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, advanced software and automation.

“This award is a significant milestone for the Innovate Mound project and our team,” said HNTB Senior Vice President Scott Shogan, “We are proud to contribute to the future of transportation and grateful for this recognition.”

MCDR and their owner’s representative consultant, HNTB, as well of the design-build team consisting of AECOM, Dan’s Excavating and Ajax Paving Inc. were all recognized for the award. The Roads & Bridges Top 10 Awards recognize the most outstanding road and bridge projects of the year. Winning projects are innovative and creative, improve the area’s infrastructure and the lives of motorists, and bring together community stakeholders to overcome challenges.

Roads & Bridges 2024 list of Top 10 Roads is available online at roadsbridges.com. For additional information about MCDR and Innovate Mound, visit macombgov.org/roads.