After years of pushing the state to fund a northbound Interstate 675 off-ramp onto Washington Avenue, Saginaw boosters made the grade Thursday.

The proposed $12.2 million project made the priority list for speeded-up funding over the next two years, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm said.

In all, 158 Michigan road and bridge construction projects are on the list.

"The commitment now is there, so it's a go," said Veronica Horn, a ramp backer and executive vice president of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.

"It's huge for us now that it's on (the state Department of Transportation's) priority list. It's a dream we've realized for five years, and it's coming to fruition."

The bridge's original 2010 opening date remains as scheduled, said David E. Geiger, a state Department of Transportation planner.

A ramp would aid the redevelopment of South Washington, East Genesee and Saginaw's riverfront, Horn said.

"It will help accelerate development of other projects," she said.

Federal lawmakers this summer committed $10 million to the project, and the governor and other state leaders have said the state would contribute also. The federal government requires a 20 percent state match.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Lansing Democrat; U.S. Reps. Dale E. Kildee, a Flint Democrat, and Dave Camp, a Midland Republican, were key in getting federal dollars lined up, Horn said.

The state's announcement also included $1.2 million in federal money to extend the South Washington streetscape. The original plan called for extending the improvements one mile in downtown Saginaw from Janes to East Remington, adding more red brick-like sidewalks and decorative lighting.

"We're going to take it as far as we can go," Horn said.

The state will spend $474 million more than originally planned on the nearly 160 projects across Michigan, Granholm said Thursday.

In Saginaw County, priority projects include the $54 million reconstruction of Interstate 75 from Birch Run Creek to Bridgeport, $900,000 in concrete repairs to M-13 and M-81 from 10th to Findley and $1.3 million in bridge improvements to Riverview Drive, East Townline and Maple over I-75.

Statewide, the projects, mostly repairs, reflect additional federal money from a revamped federal transportation spending bill. It also includes some state money, state officials said.

In all, Michigan expects to add about $618 million to its spending on transportation, which would affect 180 projects over the next five years. The additional money boosts MDOT's five-year transportation plan to about $8.92 billion. v