LANSING– (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that Michigan will borrow $3.5 billion to rebuild the state’s deteriorating highways and bridges over five years, calling it a fiscally responsible move after the Republican-led Legislature rejected her proposed fuel tax hike.

The Democrat unveiled the bonding plan during her second annual State of the State speech to lawmakers. It will enable the state Department of Transportation to do about twice as much construction on I-, U.S.- and M-numbered routes as it can now, she said. The funds would not be used to repair local roads.

“I’m going to use the power of my office to do what I said I was going to do — because for me, for Michigan, impatience is a virtue. No more waiting around to fix our roads,” Whitmer said during her address at the Capitol.

Reconstructing, rather than resurfacing, state roads in high-traffic areas with the greatest need and getting to the projects sooner will save about $365 million in the long term, Whitmer told The Associated Press ahead of the speech, because construction costs will be higher as time passes. Pavement will last 25 to 35 years instead of five to seven years, she said. She pointed to low interest rates and noted that state debt pay