Predicting how long a road will last

by orionontv | May 22, 2025 | Transportation

Predicting how long a road will last On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with a trunkline pavement strategy specialist about how the work in his area helps inform investment decisions. Tim Lemon, who works in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Bureau of Transportation Planning, talks about how pavement condition is measured and how the data is used. He explains that remaining service life (RSL) is MDOT’s primary pavement condition performance measure, which indicates the number of years before the pavement is anticipated to reach poor condition. It reflects the anticipated time in years that a pavement section can continue to provide acceptable levels of service, considering factors such as distress, structural integrity, ride quality, and functionality. He also explains that while state trunklines (I, M and US routes) don’t account for the majority of road miles in the state, they carry 53 percent of total traffic and more than 75 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan.

Weather delays Mackinac Bridge joint replacement completion

by orionontv | May 15, 2025 | Transportation

Weather delays Mackinac Bridge joint replacement completion

ST. IGNACE, Mich. – Cold, rainy weather early in the season has delayed completion of this year’s work to repave portions of the Mackinac Bridge and replace a modular joint, which will result in extended lane closures.

While contractors have completed replacement of half of the modular joint over Pier 34 on the bridge at the start of the north viaduct span, as well as repair and repaving the southbound lanes of the north viaduct, work continues on replacing the other half of the modular joint on the northbound lanes of the bridge. That work is currently anticipated to be completed by May 29, about a week later than expected.

“We worked with the contractor to ensure that the planned work could be completed prior to the Memorial Day weekend, but poor weather conditions delayed this year’s start of work and the modular joint installation took longer than expected,” said Bridge Director Kim Nowack. “Unfortunately, this means that there will be lane closures in place for the holiday weekend, but crews are working diligently to wrap the project up and get those lanes reopened.”

Weekend traffic peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. often result in traffic backups, even with all toll lanes open. Drivers should consider crossing at off-peak times or prepare for delays.

“While Memorial Day weekend typically marks the seasonal increase in traffic volumes on the bridge, we fortunately did not see backups during last year’s work, and traffic flowed smoothly,” Nowack said. “We hope that will be the case this holiday weekend.”

To ensure the work is completed prior to the seasonal rise in traffic volumes on the bridge, the scope of work for this season was reduced with the goal of reopening all lanes of the bridge before Memorial Day weekend.

Deck repairs and repaving of the remaining sections of the southbound side of the bridge will be scheduled at a later date as a separate project.

Last year, the northbound side of the bridge was repaired and repaved. While scheduled for completion prior to Memorial Day 2024, work and lane closures extended into mid-June.

Will congress move quickly on a highway bill?

by orionontv | May 8, 2025 | Transportation

Will congress move quickly on a highway bill? Congressional leaders of various infrastructure committees have shown some interest in adopting a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, offering departments of transportation and contractors some certainty, well ahead of the current act’s expiration in 2026. Susan Howard, policy and government relations director for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), returns to the podcast to share what she’s hearing in conversations on Capitol Hill. Late last month, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves released a budget reconciliation proposal. Howard explains what that means, where the conversations will move from here and what the reduction in work force at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other U.S. Department of Transportation agencies could mean.

MDOT lifting all remaining spring weight restrictions Friday

by orionontv | May 7, 2025 | Transportation

MDOT lifting all remaining spring weight restrictions Friday

LANSING, Mich. ­- Effective 6 a.m. Friday, May 9, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will lift the remaining seasonal weight restrictions on all state trunkline highways in the state of Michigan. State routes typically carry M, I or US designations.

Weight restrictions are implemented during the spring frost thaw period and are now completed for the 2025 season.

County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT’s website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under “Restrictions.” All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256. 

Good news for understanding wildlife-vehicle collisions

by orionontv | Apr 24, 2025 | Transportation

Some good news for understanding wildlife-vehicle collisions Earth Week 2025 came with a positive development for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on efforts to implement a pilot program for analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and learn ways to design safer crossings. Amanda Novak, a resource specialist in MDOT’s North Region, returns to the podcast to talk about a recently awarded $476,000 federal grant and how it will be put toward the pilot program. She previously spoke about the grant on the podcast in September 2024. While we think of white-tailed deer most commonly when it comes to WVCs, other species to be considered include elk, moose, black bear, wild turkey, pine marten, eastern massasauga rattlesnake and Blanding’s turtle. As laid out in the project abstract for the grant, the number of WVCs in Michigan continues to increase annually, worsening risks and costs to drivers. For example, white-tailed deer alone account for more than 55,000 WVCs and cost motorists an average of $130 million per year in Michigan. Additionally, WVCs are a major threat to many wildlife populations in the state, including documented impacts on several threatened and endangered species. Projected increases in tourism, housing development and climate change effects are likely to exacerbate WVC effects on motorists and wildlife in Michigan.

Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

by orionontv | Apr 22, 2025 | Transportation

Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

LANSING, Mich. ­– Roadside parks operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will reopen for the season Monday, April 28.

MDOT maintains 85 roadside parks around the state. Some parks operate seasonally, usually closing in late October and reopening in the spring.

The following roadside parks will remain closed until later this year due to weather, maintenance or construction activities:

Alger County

• Deer Lake Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
• Grand Island Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
• Kiva Roadside Park on US-41 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
• Scott Falls Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until later in the year for restoration work)

Baraga County

• Tioga Creek Roadside Park on US-41/M-28 (closed until May 12 due to snow)
• Canyon Falls Roadside Park on US-41 (closed until May 12 due to snow)

Calhoun County

• Burlington Roadside Park on M-60 (closed for repaving)

Huron County

• White Rock Roadside Park on M-25 (closed until May for restroom installation)

Ingham County

• Red Cedar Roadside Park on M-43 (closed for the summer for construction)

Keweenaw County

• Esrey Roadside Park on M-26 (closed until May 12 due to snow)

Sanilac County

• Four Mile Roadside Park on M-25 (closed until May for restroom installation)

While most parks are scheduled to reopen April 28, motorists should not expect drinking water at all parks to be turned on until sometime later in May, after annual testing and treatment of the park water systems is completed.

A map showing the status of MDOT roadside parks is available on the MDOT website.