More than a dozen bills have been introduced in the State Legislature that would raise over one billion dollars annually to maintain Michigan’s roads and bridges. The bills include repealing the 19-cent gas tax motorists pay at the pump, and shift to a 28.3-cent tax on the wholesale price of fuel raising $541 million. However, only the new revenue would be dedicated to Michigan’s roads and bridges. Another $500 million would come from raising annual vehicle registration fees an average of $60. (MRN)

9% of Michigan’s 4,402 bridges are structurally deficient, according to a new report. The Department of Transportation released the report Tuesday showing that 391 of the state's bridges are classified with the engineering term of "structurally deficient," meaning they may require rehabilitation or replacement at some time in the future. That represents an improvement compared to MDOT's July report, which had 429. (MRN)

Roads, bridges and other thoroughfares are failing. The state Senate has approved a more than $3 billion transportation budget for next year. The proposal does not include a gas tax increase, which would allow the state to qualify nearly $500 million in additional road funding. However, the bill does take money out of a fund that pays for roadside maintenance and welcome centers, so sponsors say Michigan will qualify for those federal funds.

A team of researchers at Michigan Technological University is working to identify the best remote-sensing technologies for monitoring the health of bridges. The $2.8 million project will study a variety of bridges yet to be chosen by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Remote sensing is the process of collecting data at a distance without contact. An American Society of Civil Engineers report says bridges in the United Statesreceived an average grade of C while bridges in Michiganreceived a D.

A new report says 20 bridges in Michigan are set to be closed because they're in danger of "imminent failure." the report has been issued by the County Road Association of Michigan and the Michigan department of transportation. The report also says there are more than 450 other bridges in Michigan considered by be "structurally deficient," and just under 900 that are listed as "obsolete."