The bill amends the existing law regarding the construction projects of highways, streets, roads, and bridges in Michigan, specifically focusing on the bidding process for projects exceeding $100,000. It stipulates that all such projects must be awarded through competitive bidding unless the Department of Transportation finds that an alternative method serves the public interest. The director of the department is required to report these findings to the state transportation commission and the appropriations committees of the legislature. Additionally, the bill exempts the installation or upgrading of advanced traffic operation centers and traffic signal systems from this competitive bidding requirement.

For local road agencies, the bill outlines specific criteria for when competitive bidding is required based on the agency's population size and project costs. Cities or villages with populations over 500,000 must follow competitive bidding for any project exceeding $100,000, while smaller local road agencies must adhere to this requirement for projects exceeding $250,000 or when their total costs exceed $800,000 in a fiscal year. The bill also clarifies the definition of "local road agency" and includes reporting requirements for local road agencies to their governing bodies before commencing work on projects.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 247.661