The legislature of the state of Michigan hereby assents to the provisions of the act of congress, approved July 11, 1916, 39 Stat. 355, entitled “An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes,” and the good faith of the state is hereby pledged under the provisions of this act to make available from time to time sufficient funds to pay the state's portion of the cost of constructing and maintaining federal aided roads. The state transportation department through the director of the state transportation department may make surveys, prepare plans and specifications, and take charge of the building and maintaining of federal aided roads in accordance with the provisions of the act of congress and the rules and regulations of the secretary of agriculture made under that act and amendments to that act as may from time to time be made. The director of the state transportation department may enter into all contracts and agreements with the United States government relating to the construction and maintenance of rural post roads under the provisions of the act of congress, to submit the scheme or program of construction and maintenance as may be required by the secretary of agriculture, and do all other things necessary fully to carry out the cooperation contemplated and provided for by that act. The state treasurer may receive any and all money due the state of Michigan under the provisions of this act, and shall pay out the same under the orders of the director of the state transportation department.

Townships, good roads districts and counties are hereby authorized to raise funds, either by general taxation or bond issues, for the building of federal aided roads and to deposit their portion of the cost of such roads with the state treasurer to be credited to the specific federal aid road project for which the money has been appropriated, which funds shall be paid out by the state highway commissioner together with funds appropriated by the state as the work of construction proceeds. Taxes for such purpose may be authorized, spread and collected, and bonds may be issued and sold, in the same manner, and subject to the same limitations and restrictions, as is or may be provided, in Act 283 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended: Provided, however, That in no case shall the furnishing of estimates, plans or specifications by the board of county road commissioners for the construction, maintenance or improvement of a highway hereunder be regarded as necessary: Provided further, That the state highway commissioner shall upon written request by a board of supervisors or by a township board, or at his own option, furnish estimates, plans and specifications for any such improvement. The state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to open and maintain a separate account with each road project for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act.

The state highway department of the state of Michigan, through the state highway commissioner, is hereby authorized to make surveys, prepare plans and specifications and take charge of the construction, including the letting of contracts and the paying out of all costs of preliminary work and construction, of roads located in part or in whole within the limits of a United States forest within this state: Provided, however, That before proceeding with any work the state highway commissioner shall, and is hereby authorized to, enter into a contract with the United States government relative to the construction of said road, said contract to provide that the state of Michigan shall be reimbursed by the United States government to the extent of 50 per cent of the total amount of funds expended by the state of Michigan and the United States government on such forest road: Provided further, That in no case shall the amount of state funds used for this purpose exceed 100,000 dollars in any 1 year.

The boards of county road commissioners are also authorized to expend funds either raised by general taxation or received from the distribution of motor vehicle funds for the purposes of the construction and/or maintenance of such forest highways. For the purposes of construction the counties' share of such cost shall be such share as may be mutually agreed upon between the United States government, the state highway commissioner and the board of county road commissioners. The maintenance of any such road built under the provisions of this act shall be a direct obligation of the county in which the said road is located and shall be to all intents and purposes a part of the county road system of such county and shall so remain unless such road has been or may be hereafter lawfully established as trunk line highway. The maintenance and construction of trunk line highways through the United States forests shall be subject to the general provisions of law relating thereto.