Cycling advocates mark a victory distracted driving bills
|
|
Revive275 project: Lane and ramp closures this weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 7, 2023 Revive275 project: Lane and ramp closures this weekend for traffic shift at I-96/M-14 interchange in Wayne County LIVONIA/PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The I-275 interchange with I-96/M-14 will have a traffic shift affecting freeway and ramp traffic. Beginning 6 a.m. Friday, June 9, the eastbound M-14 ramp to northbound I-275 will be closed through the end of July. Traffic will be detoured via eastbound M-14/I-96 to Farmington Road, then westbound I-96/M-14 to northbound I-275. From 6 a.m. Friday, June 9, to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 11, northbound I-275 will have one lane open from Ann Arbor Road to 5 Mile Road to allow crews to shift barrier wall. Southbound I-275 will have one lane open from M-14 to Ann Arbor Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday for moving barrier wall as well. Drivers are reminded that I-275/M-153 (Ford Road) interchange ramp closures remain in place through late July. Ramps closures at the I-275/I-94 interchange also remain in effect through early July to allow for bridge, ramp, and freeway work, with the following detours:
This work is part of the Revive275 project. Based on economic modeling, this $270 million investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 3,429 jobs. Project information can be found at Revive275.org. |
I-696 ‘Restore the Reuther’ project closing multiple ramps in Oakland County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2023
I-696 ‘Restore the Reuther’ project closing multiple ramps for work in Oakland County
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The I-696 Restore the Reuther Rebuilding Michigan project is beginning reconstruction of the major freeway interchange ramps. Beginning 8 p.m., Friday, June 2 through 5 a.m., Monday, June 5, the eastbound I-696 ramp to southbound M-10 will be closed for ramp reconstruction work. Additionally, beginning at 5 a.m., Saturday, June 3 through 8 a.m., Sunday, June 4 the ramps from M-5 and northbound I-275 to eastbound I-696 will be closed for ramp reconstruction work. Detours:
Project information: This $275 million project includes rebuilding the roadway from the base up, including storm sewer replacement work, and rebuilding ramps at Orchard Lake Road, American Drive, Franklin Road, and US-24 (Telegraph Road). During the 2023 construction season, eastbound I-696 is being rebuilt from I-275 to east of US-24 (Telegraph Road). Westbound lanes will be rebuilt in 2024. Project details can be found at DrivingOakland.com. Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 3,500 jobs. |
Crash numbers, like some drivers, are going the wrong way
|
|
|
I-75 closed June 9-12 for Davisburg Road bridge demolition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2023 I-75 closed from US-24 to Saginaw Road in Oakland County June 9-12 for Davisburg Road bridge demolition CLARKSTON, Mich. – Beginning 9 p.m. Friday, June 9, contract crews will be closing I-75 in each direction from US-24 to Saginaw Road for the demolition of the Davisburg Road bridge over I-75. All traffic will be detoured onto Dixie Highway. Work is expected to be completed by 5 a.m. Monday, June 12. This work is part of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s $160 million investment to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years. In 2024, work will include milling and resurfacing northbound I-75 from M-15 to the county line. There will be two lanes of northbound and southbound traffic sharing the existing southbound roadway. In 2025, milling and resurfacing will occur on southbound I-75 from the county line to M-15. Traffic will share the existing northbound roadway. In 2026, work will include removing the temporary crossovers and remaining miscellaneous activity. Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,936 jobs.
|
Michigan students take top honors at national bridge event
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT
May 24, 2023 Dan Weingarten
906-250-4809
WeingartenD@Michigan.gov
Michigan students take top honors at national bridge event
Fast facts:
– The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) held its Bridge Challenge competition May 16 in Seattle.
– Six of the 18 teams selected to participate in the event (where miniature bridges built from balsa wood and glue are tested for strength and design) were from Michigan.
– Teams from around Michigan took five of the top nine places in the national competition.
LANSING, Mich. - Michigan middle and high school students continued their dominance of a national bridge-building competition event in Seattle last week as teams from around the state took five of the top nine places.
Michigan students competed against other young engineers from around the U.S. at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Bridge Challenge competition May 16 in Seattle, Washington. The teams spend months building miniature bridges, which are then judged on design and tested to destruction.
The competition has five phases: using software to design a bridge; building a physical bridge model using glue and balsa wood from pre-packaged kits; developing a portfolio; making a presentation in front of a panel of judges; and, finally, destructive testing of the bridge models to calculate their strength-to-weight ratios.
Eighteen squads competed in the national finals this year, selected from a pool of 86 portfolios. Besides Michigan, teams from California, Florida, Maryland, and Mississippi qualified for the nationals.
The competition’s goal is to develop a bridge that will carry as much weight as possible while weighing as little as possible. Students compete in separate age categories: grades 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12. Michigan teams took first place honors in all three age categories and second place in two categories.
All team members receive medals and cash prizes were awarded, with first place teams getting $1,200, second place teams receiving $900, and third place teams receiving $600.
This national contest is part of AASHTO’s educational outreach program, supported by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Since 2004, MDOT has offered the Transportation and Civil Engineering (TRAC) program to schools. It’s a hands-on curriculum designed for integration into science, math and social science classes with the goal of encouraging kids to pursue engineering and other science-related fields.
“Keeping our nation competitive is going to require a new wave of young engineers,” said Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich. “And it’s clear we have some of the best right here in Michigan. MDOT is proud to support this contest. This is a great way to inspire and nurture tomorrow’s engineers and it continues MDOT’s long tradition of workforce development.”
Michigan teams have excelled at the competition for years. For the 10th year in a row, a team from Negaunee High School in Negaunee, advised by Kevin Bell, won the 11th-12th grade division of the national bridge challenge in 2019, the last time this contest was held in person before the 2023 event. The contest switched gears to become a virtual showcase in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While remaining virtual in 2022, it returned to a competitive format.
The bridge challenge is part of MDOT’s TRAC program curriculum. More information is available at www.Michigan.gov/MDOT-TRAC.
2023 AASHTO Bridge Challenge winners
7th – 8th Grade Division
1st Place: Patriotic G.A.S. – Sophia Jiang, Ananyaa Rakkappan, and Grace Zhao – Meads Mill Middle School, Northville, Mich.
2nd Place: CN^2 – Nikki Cox, Colton Rogers, and Natalee Tran – Mantachie Middle School, Mantachie, Miss.
3rd Place: TRUSSworthy Pals – Angel Adesoji, Rony Quijada, and Chiezita Uzoukwu – Chesapeake Math and IT Academy North Middle School, Laurel, Md.
9th – 10th Grade Division
1st Place: Tied Arch Titans – Joshua Lee, Jonas Yan, and Sriraam Hebbar – Northville High School, Northville, Mich.
2nd Place: Mission ImBALSAble – Katelyn Baker, Mattis Riddle, and Kamryn Van Sickle – Clinton High School, Clinton, Mich.
3rd Place: BEHS Young Team 1 – Kelan Dennis, Guiliano Jules, and Anjan Kumar Sangam – Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Fla.
11th – 12th Grade Division
1st Place: 906 Bridge Co. – Ryan Hemmila, Thomas McCollum, and Phil Nelson – Negaunee High School, Negaunee, Mich.
2nd Place: SAB Civil Engineering – Desiree Almeida, Page Baker, and Nathaniel Sherick – LISD Tech Center, Adrian, Mich.
3rd Place: Tackticians – Adreas Aghajanian, Hayden Schricker, and Logan Weinstein – Taft Charter High School, Woodland Hills, Calif.
###
Driving safely in work zones saves lives!
Protect MI work zones by taking the pledge.
www.twitter.com/MDOT_UP | ww
Placing first in the 7th – 8th grade division was the Patriotic G.A.S. team. From left: Sophia Jiang, Ananyaa Rakkappan, and Grace Zhao of Meads Mill Middle School in Northville, Mich. They were congratulated by Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich.
Taking first place in the 9th – 10th grade division was the Tied Arch Titans team. From left: Joshua Lee, Sriraam Hebbar, and Jonas Yan of Northville High School in Northville, Mich. They were congratulated by Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich.
Taking second place in the 9th – 10th grade division was Mission ImBALSAble. From left: Katelyn Baker, Kamryn Van Sickle, and Mattis Riddle of Clinton High School in Clinton, Mich. They were congratulated by Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich
The 906 Bridge Co. team took first place in the 11th – 12th grade division. From left: Thomas McCollum, Phil Nelson, and Ryan Hemmila of Negaunee High School in Negaunee, Mich. They were congratulated by Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich.
Taking second place in the 11th – 12th grade division was the SAB Civil Engineering team. From left: Nathaniel Sherick, Page Baker, Desiree Almeida, and team sponsor Kim Benson from LISD Tech Center in Adrian, Mich. Congratulating them is Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich.