MI HB5397

Expands governmental agencies' duty to maintain highways to include road signage, markings, traffic control devices, and proper design/construction of the roadway, beyond just the physical roadbed.

Limits highway maintenance liability to the improved portion designed for vehicular travel, excluding sidewalks, trailways, and crosswalks.

Makes the state transportation department the sole defendant in tort liability cases when another governmental agency contracts to perform work on state trunk line highways.

Restricts third parties from claiming contractual rights against governmental agencies based on highway maintenance contracts; only the state transportation department can assert contractual claims.

Limits governmental agencies' highway maintenance duties by sections 81131 and 82124 of the 1994 Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.