Freeland road work advances as W. Freeland Road project remains programmed and Garfield roundabout construction continues

Freeland has two separate road projects planned or underway near the intersection of W. Freeland Road and Garfield Road: a programmed pavement rehabilitation between Webster and Garfield roads, and roundabout construction that began June 8.

The Michigan Department of Transportation’s FY 2026 Small Urban Program lists the W. Freeland Road project as Job No. 221128. The project covers 0.749 miles from Webster Road to Garfield Road and includes a mill-and-two-course overlay, along with intersection improvements at Garfield Road.

MDOT lists an estimated total cost of $481,250, including $385,000 in federal funding and $96,250 in local funding. Saginaw County is identified as the responsible agency, and the project status is listed as programmed.

What is known about the W. Freeland Road project

“Programmed” identifies the rehabilitation as part of the approved FY 2026 project list, but it does not establish that construction has started. MDOT’s listing does not provide a construction start date, contractor, final bid amount or completion date for Job No. 221128.

The planned work would address the pavement along the specified stretch of W. Freeland Road and includes improvements at the Garfield Road intersection. The project is separate from the roundabout construction now affecting the same general area.

Roundabout work brings detour

The Saginaw County Road Commission began construction of a new roundabout at Freeland Road and Garfield Road on June 8. A July 13 road-construction report said the work was expected to take eight weeks.

During construction, the north intersection of Freeland and Garfield roads was closed. The reported detour directed drivers to 7 Mile Road, Hotchkiss Road and Sarle Road.

That closure and detour create continuing work-zone effects for residents and commuters using the Freeland-Garfield connection. The programmed W. Freeland Road rehabilitation could bring additional pavement and intersection work to the corridor if it advances to construction, but the two projects should not be treated as phases of one project.

The next known timing for the roundabout is the eight-week construction expectation reported July 13. No construction schedule or completion deadline is identified in MDOT’s project listing for the W. Freeland Road rehabilitation.