by Becky Andrus | Mar 4, 2021 | Transportation
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021
CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, [email protected]
I-75 lane and ramp closures begin Monday, March 8,
in Oakland County
Fast facts:
– Northbound I-75 will have lane closures from Big Beaver to Wattles roads.
– All ramps at the I-75/Big Beaver Road interchange will close for two weeks.
March 4, 2021 — Weather permitting, lane and ramp closures will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, March 8, on I-75 for punch list items and sound wall construction in the city of Troy. Beginning at 7 a.m., the following restrictions will be in place:
– Only the left lane will be open on northbound I-75 at Big Beaver Road as crews work on repairing a drainage connection. The double-lane closures are expected to remain in place until sunset on March 15.
– Pavement work will require closing all ramps at the I-75/Big Beaver Road interchange for two weeks. Northbound ramp traffic will be detoured to the Crooks Road/Corporate Drive interchange while southbound ramp traffic will be directed to Rochester Road.
– Northbound I-75 will have two lanes open near Wattles Road as crews build a new sound wall. The lane closures are expected to remain in place until mid-April.
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. |
by Becky Andrus | Mar 2, 2021 | Transportation
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021
CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, [email protected]
Work to replace the southbound I-75 bridge over 13 Mile Road begins Tuesday, March 2, in Oakland County
Fast facts:
– Crews will be replacing the southbound I-75 bridge over 13 Mile Road this year.
– Northbound and southbound I-75 will have one open between 14 Mile and 12 Mile roads from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. while crews install a traffic shift.
– 13 Mile Road will be closed under I-75 from 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, until Monday, March 8.
March 1, 2021 — Weather permitting, work to replace the southbound I-75 bridge over 13 Mile Road in the city of Madison Heights begins Tuesday, March 2. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, northbound and southbound I-75 will have one lane open between 14 Mile and 12 Mile roads while crews install a traffic shift. By tomorrow afternoon, two lanes of southbound I-75 will be maintained on the northbound side of the freeway from 14 Mile to 12 Mile roads. The southbound I-75 exits to 14 Mile and 12 Mile roads will be open.
Scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 13 Mile Road will be closed under I-75. The closure will allow for crews to safely demolish the southbound I-75 bridge over 13 Mile Road and to begin excavation work for the new bridge supports. 13 Mile Road will have one lane open in each direction under I-75 by 5 a.m. Monday, March 8.
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. |
by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Transportation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021
CONTACT: Michael Frezell, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-281-6519
[email protected]
MDOT Accelerated Rail Project
wins prestigious engineering award
Fast facts:
– MDOT and Quandel Consultants won the top Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award from American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/M) of Michigan for work on the Accelerated Rail Project.
– The project involved acquiring railroad right of way and infrastructure improvements on MDOT-owned track from Kalamazoo to Dearborn.
-ACEC/M recognizes worthy Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year.
March 1, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Quandel Consultants recently received the highest honor with the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/M) of Michigan for their work on the Accelerated Rail Project. The ACEC/M recognizes worthy Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals who have significantly contributed to the profession. The award was announced at the organization’s annual gala held virtually on Feb. 26.
“I am thrilled MDOT and Quandel Consultants won this top honor for their hard work involved in the important Accelerated Rail Project,” said Peter Anastor, MDOT Office of Rail director. “MDOT took bold initiative to become a nationally recognized leader in supporting intercity rail service by acquiring the railroad right of way and investing in these infrastructure improvements. Now Michigan is the only state outside of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor carrying trains at speeds of 110 mph.”
The passenger rail corridor runs from Chicago to Detroit/Pontiac, which includes the MDOT-owned accelerated rail segment between Kalamazoo and Dearborn. Infrastructure improvements included replacing railroad track, modifying curves for higher speeds, improving grade crossings, replacing bridges, implementing a positive train control (PTC) system, and other safety improvements. Project management services were provided by Quandel Consultants, which included planning, implementing, and monitoring the series of projects that went into the buildout of the corridor.
“The State of Michigan is a national leader in the support of intercity passenger rail service, and this project epitomizes what can be achieved with great vision, leadership, and partnership,” said Daniel Schulte, Quandel Consultants senior director of engineering.
This truly unique project began in 2011 when MDOT became a recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal funds dedicated to reinvigorating the economy and bringing passenger rail back as a prominent form of surface transportation. Neither the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) nor MDOT had ever undertaken a project like this, so the management team was essentially starting from scratch on many aspects of delivering a project of this magnitude. Since then, MDOT has made strategic partnerships with the FRA, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern Railroad, local agencies, and the engineering consulting industry to bring the project to fruition.
“Our partnership with MDOT is successful and important for the traveling public. From developing a rail safety system now used internationally to our work to correct years of deferred private maintenance, together we’re building out Michigan’s corridor east of Kalamazoo to shorten travel times and improve reliability,” said Amtrak Vice President and Chief Engineer Gery Williams. “Amtrak is here to help Michigan and other states achieve their intercity rail goals.”
by Becky Andrus | Feb 26, 2021 | Transportation
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
[email protected]
Annual spring weight restrictions
start Monday to protect Michigan’s roads
February 26, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local agencies are enacting spring weight restrictions, an annual move to protect roads.
Effective 6 a.m. Monday, March 1, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways from the Michigan border north to and including M-20 from the interchange with US-31 in Oceana County, then east on M-20 to US-131, then north on US-131 to M-20 in Mecosta County, then east on M-20 to US-10 in Midland County, then east on US-10 to M-25 in Bay City, including the entire Thumb region.
All state trunklines in this area will have weight restrictions imposed and enforced. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.
When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This also contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s numerous freeze-thaw cycles.
In the restricted areas, the following will apply:
– On routes designated as “all-season” (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
– On routes designated as “seasonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.
– All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.
MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions, and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability.
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. |
by Becky Andrus | Feb 11, 2021 | Transportation
|
What is bridge bundling?
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/7808629-what-is-bridge-bundling
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Matt Chynoweth, chief bridge engineer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), breaks down a proposal to repair or replace crumbling local bridges across the state.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is seeking $300 million in a Fiscal Year 2021 supplemental budget request to repair or replace hundreds of local bridges that are closed or in critical condition.
Chynoweth explains how MDOT is offering contract and bridge engineering expertise to create economies of scale and how leveraging the design build process will stretch the funding.
As the Detroit Free Press observed in extensive reporting, the state has under-funded transportation infrastructure for decades. That is especially apparent in the condition of bridges.
Chynoweth also explains jurisdiction and the Federal Highway Administration’s designation of state departments of transportation to ensure inspection protocols are followed by counties, cities and villages in managing their bridges.
Local Agency Bridge Bundle Program graphic with a map showing the approximately 60 local agency bridges currently closed to traffic.
|
|
|
|
by Becky Andrus | Jan 29, 2021 | Transportation
|
Why is MDOT naming snowplows?
Thank the Scots
Have you heard the names:
For Your Ice Only?
Gangsta Granny Gritter?
Gritallica?
Gritty Gritty Bang Bang?
Ice Buster?
These are not the names of films or rock bands. These are monikers for Gritters, which is what our friends in Scotland call snowplows.
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, recorded Jan. 26, Iain McDonald joins the conversation from Perth, Scotland. McDonald works with ice 24/7/365, at Transport Scotland by day and, when off duty, as a producer of gin at The Perth Distillery Co.
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/7556188-why-is-mdot-naming-snowplows-thank-the-scots
Transport Scotland’s initiative to name the snow fleet generated worldwide attention, especially on Twitter.
McDonald explains that the idea to name the vehicles came from frequent questions about when there would be a snowstorm and people would say, “We never see a gritter on the road.” So, the “Trunk Road Gritter Tracker” was born. Naming the plows makes it easy for people to follow their location and progress and make decisions about what roads are clear and salted before embarking on a journey.
McDonald talks about how his team prepares for snow events, especially the all-hands-on-deck Beast from the East.
The popularity of labeling the plows in Scotland inspired others, including the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
In the second segment, MDOT’s Nick Schirripa and Courtney Bates join the podcast to talk about the launch here. Bates tells us that as of late January members of the public have submitted nearly 12,000 ideas for plow names. As a website administrator working to keep the Mi Drive site up to date, she sees the naming initiative as a way to highlight all the features, including tracking the plows but also viewing real-time information about crashes, road work or other slowdowns, as well as camera images.
Schirripa tells Fox 2 in Detroit that Plowy McPlowface and Sir Saltsalot were among the top nominations here. He also emphasizes there are not only educational and safety benefits from the project, but this also pays tribute to the people who brave the storms and clear the roads day and night.
First screenshot of Traffic Scotland Trunk Road Gritter Tracker site.
Second screenshot of MDOT’s Mi Drive site.
|
|
|
|
