LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded a $375,000 state Transportation Economic Development Fund Category F grant to the Dickinson County Road Commission for upcoming work on East Breitung Avenue, also known as Breitung Cut-Off Road.

The road is a major east-west route in southwest Dickinson County and serves as a bypass of Iron Mountain for vehicles traveling between U.S. 2 and Kingsford. It also provides connections to U.S. 141 and M-95.

The pavement is in poor condition and the roadway is nearing the end of its useful life, according to an MDOT news release.

The DCRC plans to rebuild East Breitung Avenue from 400 feet east of Hydraulic Falls Road to 1,600 feet west of U.S. 141. Additional work includes culvert replacement and the installation of new guardrail to improve safety.

The total project cost is $590,000, with $375,000 in Category F funds and $215,000 in matching funds from the DCRC.

Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the TEDF helps finance highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers. TEDF Category F — or “Urban Areas in Rural Counties” — grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that create system continuity with the secondary all-season road system.

Category F grants provide funding for projects that include improving access to the state all-season system or improving safety and all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic. Eligible road agencies include county road commissions, cities and villages. For more information on the program, go online to www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.

“From day one, I’ve been clear that we need to invest more in our state’s roads,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Today, I’m proud to announce a transportation economic development grant that will help the DCRC rebuild an important corridor in the community. Road projects like this connect workers to jobs and provide important links for our communities. We must do more to fix our roads and I stand ready to work with anyone willing to get the job done.”