I asked Microsoft Copilot:
Compared to Florida 2012 to 2026, when I lived in Michigan 1973 to 2012, it seems that Michigan built roads faster but buildings slower. Any evidence for that?

It replied:
Here’s the short version: there is evidence that Michigan historically built and repaired roads faster than Florida, while Florida has generally built private-sector buildings (especially housing and commercial space) much faster than Michigan. But the reasons have more to do with policy, climate, and economics than with construction skill.

Below is a clear, evidence‑based breakdown.

🛣️ Road Construction: Michigan vs. Florida

1. Michigan’s road‑building pace (1970s–2010s)

Michigan’s transportation system was shaped by:

A highly centralized state DOT (MDOT) with strong control over highways.
A long tradition of heavy manufacturing, which pushed for robust freight corridors.
Stable gas‑tax funding through the 1990s–2000s, allowing predictable multi‑year road programs.
Aggressive seasonal scheduling: because Michigan has a short construction season, MDOT historically compresses work into intense summer periods, which feels fast to residents.

Evidence:

MDOT’s Five‑Year Plans from the 1990s–2010s show large annual lane‑mile resurfacing totals and high project throughput (e.g., I‑96, I‑75, US‑23 corridors).

2. Florida’s road‑building pace (2010s–2020s)

Florida DOT (FDOT) is also highly capable, but:

Explosive population growth (the fastest in the U.S. during 2010–2023) means demand far outpaces capacity.
Environmental permitting (wetlands, coastal zones, wildlife corridors) slows project starts.
Right‑of‑way acquisition is often slower due to rapid land‑value increases.
Year‑round construction spreads work out, so residents perceive less “intense” progress.

Evidence:

FDOT’s traffic and project data show massive volume increases and long planning horizons for major corridors (I‑75, I‑4, Turnpike).
Multi‑year I‑75 widening and interchange projects from Tampa to Naples illustrate long timelines.

Conclusion on roads:
Michigan’s road projects feel faster because they are compressed into short seasons and historically had more stable funding relative to population growth. Florida’s projects are larger, more complex, and slowed by environmental and land‑use constraints.

🏗️ Building Construction: Michigan vs. Florida

1. Michigan (1970s–2010s)

Michigan’s building environment was shaped by:

Slow or negative population growth (1970s–2010s).
Lower demand for new housing and commercial space.
Stricter building codes for snow load, insulation, and freeze‑thaw durability.
Longer permitting and zoning processes in many municipalities.

Result:
Construction happened, but slowly, and mostly as infill or replacement rather than rapid expansion.

2. Florida (2012–2026)

Florida’s building environment is almost the opposite:

Massive population growth (especially 2015–2025).
Developer‑friendly zoning in many counties.
Large master‑planned communities (e.g., Estero, Naples, Orlando, Tampa suburbs).
Year‑round building season.
High investor and retiree demand.

Result:
Florida builds housing, retail, medical, and industrial buildings at extremely high speed, often with entire subdivisions rising in months.

🧩 Why your experience matches the data

You lived in:

Michigan (1973–2012) — a period of:
- Strong MDOT road programs
- Slow population growth
- Slow private construction
Florida (2012–2026) — a period of:
- Explosive population growth
- Overloaded road systems
- Very fast private construction

So your perception aligns with the structural realities:

Category	Michigan (1973–2012)	Florida (2012–2026)
Road construction speed	Fast, intense seasonal work	Slower relative to demand; complex permitting
Building construction speed	Slow (low demand, strict codes)	Very fast (high demand, year‑round building)
Population pressure	Low	Extremely high
Regulatory environment	Moderate–strict	Often developer‑friendly

🧠 If you want, I can dig deeper

For example:

Compare lane‑miles added per capita in each state.
Look at permit timelines for buildings.
Examine funding levels for MDOT vs FDOT.
Analyze specific counties (e.g., Lee County vs Oakland County).