State Sen. Ed McBroom provides testimony before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in support of his legislation to honor Medio J. Bacco, an innovator and pioneer in Michigan’s road-building industry. Senate Bill 53 would designate a portion of U.S. 8 from the Michigan-Wisconsin border to the intersection with U.S. 2 in Norway as the “Medio J. Bacco Memorial Highway.” (Contributed photo)

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Ed McBroom is pushing to rename a portion of U.S. 8 after Bacco Construction founder Medio J. Bacco, who reportedly did that section as the first paved roadway in the Upper Peninsula.

McBroom recently testified before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in support of his legislation to honor Bacco, considered an influential and innovative member of Michigan’s road-building industry.

McBroom’s bill, Senate Bill 53, would designate U.S. 8 from the Michigan-Wisconsin border to the intersection with U.S. 2 in Norway as the “Medio J. Bacco Memorial Highway.”

Bacco was an Italian immigrant who traveled to the United States, eventually calling Iron Mountain home, according to a news release from McBroom’s office.

He began a career in area mines and became an incredibly successful entrepreneur in the road-building, construction and gravel industries. He was awarded his first road construction contract in 1915 and officially incorporated the business in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in 1930, according to the company’s website. Bacco was a 2015 inductee into the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame.

“The contributions and innovations of Medio Bacco quite literally helped build our state,” McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, said in the news release. “This section of road on U.S. 8 was not only Medio’s first paving project but was also the first section of paved highway in the U.P.”

McBroom added, “The Legislature has passed a number of highway memorial bills over the years, but this one is unique in that the road is being memorialized in the name of the person who built it. It’s a tremendous and fitting way to honor not only this milestone accomplishment, but also his philanthropy, innovation and dedication to his community and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.”

Bacco Construction Company remains in business at N3676 N. U.S. 2 in Iron Mountain.