FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

CONTACT: Diane Cross, MDOT Office of Communications, [email protected]

 Clarkston Rest Area closing for three weeks

in Oakland County for accessibility upgrades

COUNTY:

Oakland COMMUNITY: Clarkston

START DATE:

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021

9 a.m.

REOPEN DATE:

Late November 2021

CLOSURE DETAILS:

The southbound I-75 Clarkston Rest Area, south of Davisburg Road in Springfield Township, will have interior and exterior upgrades to ensure the rest area is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Beginning 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, through late November, the facility will be completely closed. The northbound I-75 Davisburg Rest Area in Springfield Township, northern Oakland County, has reopened.

SAFETY BENEFIT:

These accessibility upgrades will bring this facility up to the most current ADA standards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

CONTACT: Nick Schirripa, MDOT Office of Communications, 269-208-7829

            [email protected]

The real question: Is winter ready for MDOT?

November 2, 2021 — Michigan’s fall colors aren’t even in their full brilliance, and that telltale chill already is in the air. Winter’s first snow is on its way. With almost 10,000 miles of state highways to clear, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is ready to greet the snowy season with a full fleet of plow trucks and contract counties.

“We’re going to be just fine,” said Mark Geib, administrator for MDOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division. “We have highly trained people, we have the material we need, our equipment has been inspected and is ready to go. We’re in good shape.”

Whether it’s the wing plows, tow plows, or salt trucks, MDOT’s winter fleet is at the ready. In addition to the 330 plow trucks MDOT operates, it contracts with 63 counties to maintain state highways, bringing the total number plows to closer to 1,300 statewide. While MDOT relies on direct forces to plow about 25 percent of its state roads, the other 75 percent are plowed by county forces paid by the state for their services.

For this winter, the state has budgeted around $25 million for salt. There is 450,000 tons of salt filling storage barns around the state.

MDOT also is expanding a program started last winter and will be applying liquid salt to three trunklines: M-43 in Grand Ledge, M-20 in Mt. Pleasant, and M-66 in Montcalm County. The liquid is a 23 percent salt solution sprayed instead of spreading rock salt. It’s been used for a few years in other states, and MDOT is examining the efficiency of the practice for expanded use statewide in the future.

The salt solution will work faster than rock salt but also has a shorter working period. The liquid stays where it’s sprayed, eliminating the “bounce and scatter” of spreading rock salt, which results in some waste. The liquid program also reduces the amount of salt being introduced into the environment. MDOT will continue to expand the liquid use as best practices are learned and the needed equipment is acquired.

The final and most important pieces of MDOT’s winter maintenance operations, the brave people who pilot the plow trucks, also are falling into place. Full-time MDOT maintenance workers are at the ready, with seasonal operators currently being interviewed and hired. Many seasonal plow operators work in construction during the warmer months and return to MDOT each year when that work halts for the winter. Many of those seasonal operators still are working on active projects; their return is anticipated in the coming weeks, plenty of time to fortify MDOT’s plow operator team before the heaviest of Michigan’s winter weather is expected.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, [email protected]

Pavement repair requires closing southbound I-75 ramps to

both directions of I-696 Thursday in Oakland County

Fast facts:

– The southbound I-75 ramps to eastbound and westbound I-696 will be closed for pavement and barrier wall repair.   

– The ramp closures begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21.

– Weather permitting, this work is expected to be completed on Nov. 11.

October 18, 2021 — Pavement and barrier wall repair will begin Thursday morning on the southbound I-75 ramps to eastbound and westbound I-696. The ramps will close at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, and will reopen Nov. 11, weather permitting.

The detours for the southbound I-75 ramps will use eastbound I-75 Business Loop (Square Lake Road) to southbound M-1 (Woodward Avenue) back to I-696.

Drivers are reminded the southbound I-75 exit ramps to Big Beaver, 14 Mile and 12 Mile roads are open.

Follow I-75 modernization progress on the web at www.Modernize75.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Modernize75 or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Modernize75.

Sharing on behalf of the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2021

CONTACT Katie Alexander Director of Safe Routes to School 517-908-3830

Walk to School Day and ACES Lace Up Together

LANSING, MI — Michigan students will be joining schoolchildren from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day (W2SD) on Wednesday, October 6. Coordinated by the Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program staff, over 300 schools across the state sign up to participate annually. This year, they have also added “The World’s Largest Exercise Class” known as All Children Exercise Simultaneously (ACES Day) to the event with generous support from Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan.

Organized by the Partnership for a Walkable America in 1997, Walk to School Day (W2SD) is a global event that encourages walkable communities. Founded in 1989, ACES Day is an international event created by the Youth Fitness Coalition to raise awareness about heart disease in children due to obesity.

“Bringing Walk to School Day and ACES Day together is a natural fit as we continue our mission to create safer and more physically active communities across Michigan,” said Michigan Fitness Foundation President and CEO Amy Ghannam. “Both events emphasize the importance of increasing fitness in children, while strengthening community connections between families and schools.”

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is an implementing agency for federally funded SRTS grant program through the U.S. Department of Transportation. SRTS is designed to promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, engagement, tools, safety education, and incentives that encourage walking and bicycling to school.

“We look forward to Walk to School Day every year,” said MDOT Office of Economic Development Administrator Mike Kapp. “This community engagement event encourages healthy habits in children and promotes active transportation.”

Families, schools, and community organizations are invited to register for the blended event and participate in a way that best fits their needs and aligns with local public health guidance.  Over the years, registrants have created events such as a family walk to school, bike rodeo, yoga in the park, trail run, slow roll, or a walking parade.

To register, visit https://saferoutesmichigan.org/walk-to-school-day/. All registrants will receive planning resources.