FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

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

Reminder: Ongoing bridge work requires closing I-75

this weekend in Oakland County

Fast facts:

– Both directions of I-75 will be closed between I-696 and M-102 (8 Mile Road) starting at 11 p.m. Friday and ending by 5 a.m. Monday.  

– During the closure, all traffic will be detoured to M-1 (Woodward Avenue).

– 14 Mile Road closes under I-75 Friday morning for ongoing interchange work.     

April 14, 2021 — Weather permitting, overpass replacement will require both directions of I-75 to be closed between M-102 (8 Mile Road) and I-696. The weekend closure is needed to allow crews to safely set bridge beams on the Highland Avenue pedestrian bridge in the city of Hazel Park.

The weekend closure will begin at 11 p.m. Friday, April 16, and ends by 5 a.m. Monday, April 19. In addition, both directions of I-75 will be down to one lane between I-696 and 14 Mile Road.

Prior to both freeway closures, crews will begin closing ramps at 9 p.m. and start freeway lane closures at 10 p.m. All ramps to northbound I-75 will be closed from Davison Freeway to 9 Mile Road. All ramps to southbound I-75 will be closed from 14 Mile to 9 Mile roads.

During the closure, northbound I-75 traffic will be detoured west on 8 Mile Road to northbound M-1 (Woodward Avenue), then eastbound I-696 back to northbound I-75. Southbound I-75 traffic will use westbound I-696 to southbound M-1, then eastbound 8 Mile Road back to southbound I-75.

Further north, both directions of 14 Mile Road under I-75, and all interchange ramps, will close for work on the diverging diamond interchange. The closure begins at 7 a.m. Friday, April 16, and ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 19. Upon opening 14 Mile Road and all ramps, the left lane on both eastbound and westbound 14 Mile Road will remain closed through mid-summer as crews await equipment arrival needed to complete the required signal installation.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 

CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
                      [email protected]

First Adopt-A-Highway litter pickup in Michigan
begins April 17

Fast facts:
– The first Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway pickup of the year is April 17-25 for the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
– Pickups for the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula will be from May 1 to May 9.
– Sections of highway are still available to adopt. Go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information.
– MDOT requires all Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household.

April 12, 2021 — Volunteers will fan out out across lower Michigan to give state highway roadsides their annual spring-cleaning beginning Saturday as groups in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program pick up litter from April 17 to 25.

The first AAH pickup for the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula will be later, from May 1 to 9, when spring has had more time to set in.

“Our thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers deserve thanks for helping to save taxpayer dollars while keeping Michigan roadsides clean,” said State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “Their community spirit and pride make a huge difference. We ask all motorists to keep an eye out for these volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods.”

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 17 to 25 and a fall pickup from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3.

The AAH program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, around 2,900 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway. In a typical year, these volunteers collect 60,000 to 70,000 bags of trash annually, an estimated $5 million value for the state. Last year was anything but typical, though. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first pickup of 2020 was cancelled. While the summer and fall pickups went forward with COVID precautions in place, groups collected around 20,000 bags of trash. Organizers speculate the numbers were down because fewer groups were able to participate, not necessarily because there was less trash on the highways.

AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people. MDOT requires all AAH volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. AAH signs bearing a group’s name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

Several landfills in southwestern Michigan are also chipping in to help the AAH program. Westside Landfill in St. Joseph County, C&C Landfill in Calhoun County, Orchard Hill Landfill in Berrien County, Southeast Berrien County Landfill near Niles, and Republic Services Gembrit Circle Transfer Station in Kalamazoo have all agreed to accept trash generated by the three annual AAH pickups at no charge. In exchange, these businesses receive a sign recognizing their support.

For more information, go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.