Let the work begin. Almost.

In a 7-0 vote, a state Senate panel on Tuesday approved $873 million in federal stimulus funds to be used for road, bridge and other transportation construction throughout Michigan. The full Senate is expected to give its OK on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.  

The measure already won support in the Democratic-controlled state House. About 25 percent of the funds will be doled out to local and regional road departments.

Most of the money will be used to improve existing highways, but some of it will be spent on a few expansion projects on the Michigan Department of Transportation’s list.

That includes projects to widen I-94 near Kalamazoo; widen and make other major improvements to the I-75 corridor through Oakland and Wayne counties, including improved connections to the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and rehabilitate 56 bridges and make other improvements to the I-96 and I-696 corridors through Oakland and Macomb counties.

Chris Killian is a freelance journalist based in Kalamazoo and writes regularly for The Kalamazoo Gazette.