MDOT lifts traffic restrictions to ease Memorial Day travel

MDOT lifts traffic restrictions to ease Memorial Day travel

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                MEDIA CONTACTS
May 25, 2022                                                       See regional contact information below.

MDOT lifts traffic restrictions to ease
Memorial Day travel

Safety benefits:
– MDOT is suspending work and lifting traffic restrictions wherever possible this holiday weekend to ease congestion and increase safety (104 out of 165 projects).
– AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.1 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 7.9 percent increase from last year.
– Although some equipment and traffic configurations will remain over the weekend, suspending construction operations improves safety for workers and motorists.
– Remember to buckle up, stay alert and avoid distractions at all times when driving.

LANSING, Mich. – This Memorial Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on more than 63 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.1 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 7.9 percent increase from last year.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, May 27, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 104 out of 165 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT work zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures.

“As life continues to get back to normal as normal can be coming out of the pandemic, it’s clear folks are going to be doing a lot of traveling this holiday weekend and into the summer,” said State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “We have more work happening than ever thanks to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program, which means more work zones to be aware of. We implore all drivers to slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in all work zones. While you’re depending on us to fix the roads, road workers are trusting you with their lives. Let’s make sure everyone makes it home each and every night.”

MDOT oversees I, M, and US routes and is responsible for nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, which carry more than 50 percent of all traffic and approximately 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan.

For up-to-date information on MDOT projects, view the list of statewide lane closures on the Mi Drive website at www.Michigan.gov/Drive

The following is a list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Memorial Day weekend. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location.

Upper Peninsula

– M-28 in Munising, Alger County, has two lanes open between Commercial Street and Bay View Street with a traffic shift.

– M-64, Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Floodwood River west of Ontonagon via temporary signals.

– M-64, Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Halfway River west of Ontonagon via temporary signals.

– M-129, Chippewa County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Munuscong River via temporary signals.

– M-183, Delta County, has one lane open in alternating directions via temporary signals at a culvert crossing 2 miles south of US-2.

– US-2 in Bessemer, Gogebic County, will have the outside westbound lane closed between Clayberg and Mine streets.

– US-41 (College Avenue) in Houghton, Houghton County, has a posted detour in place for southbound US-41 traffic.

– US-41 in Marquette will have one southbound lane closed from Blemhuber Avenue and Furnace Street.

– US-41/M-28 carpool lot near Alberta, Baraga County, will be closed.

– US-45 in Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over Roselawn Creek via temporary signals River southeast of Ewen.

For more information, contact MDOT Superior Region Communications Representative Dan Weingarten at 906-250-4809. Follow the Superior Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_UP.

Northern Lower Peninsula

None.

For more information, contact MDOT North Region Communications Representative James Lake at 906-250-0993. Follow the North Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Traverse.

West Michigan

– 14 Mile Road, Osceola County, is closed over US-131. Detour posted.

– I-96, Kent County, has one westbound lane open with a traffic shift between Whitneyville Avenue and 36th Street. The following ramps will be closed:

  • The eastbound I-96 ramp to westbound M-6,
  • The eastbound M-6 ramp to eastbound I-96, and
  • The 36th Street entrance ramp to eastbound I-96.

– I-96, Kent County, has the eastbound ramp to southbound US-131 closed with a posted detour. The M-37 (Alpine Avenue) ramp to southbound US-131 is also closed.

– I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction at Hile Road near US-31.

– I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction over Norris Creek near Fruitport.

– I-196, Kent County, has westbound lanes shifted at the I-196 Business Loop (Chicago Drive) interchange in Grandville. The eastbound I-196 exit ramp to Chicago Drive is closed, and the Chicago Drive entrance ramp to westbound I-196 is closed.  

– I-196, Ottawa County, has a traffic shift with two westbound lanes open and one eastbound lane open between Hudsonville and Zeeland.

– M-179 (129th Avenue), Allegan County, has the entrance ramp to southbound US-131 closed.

– US-31, Allegan County, has the northbound lanes closed at I-196 with traffic detoured to M-40. The southbound US-31 exit ramp to Washington Avenue/Blue Star Highway is closed.   

– US-31, Mason and Manistee counties, is closed between Hoague Road and Fox Farm Road. Detour posted.

– US-131 Business Route (19 Mile Road) in Big Rapids is closed between 220th Avenue and Northland Drive. Detour posted.

For more information, contact MDOT Grand Region Communications Representative John Richard at 616-262-1565. Follow the Grand Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_West.

Southwest Michigan

– I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction from I-94 to M-78.

– I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction between M-60 and Marshall Drive.

– I-94, Berrien County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift from I-196 to Britain Avenue. The southbound I-196 ramp to eastbound I-94 is closed and detoured.

– I-94, Kalamazoo County, has ramp closures at Portage Road; Portage Road has one lane open in each direction with no left turns at Kilgore Road.

For more information, contact MDOT Southwest Region Communications Representative Nick Schirripa at 269-208-7829. Follow the Southwest Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Southwest.

Central Michigan and Thumb

– Lapeer Road, Lapeer County, is closed over I-69 and detoured.

– I-69, Genesee County, will have two lanes open in each direction from Hammerberg Road to M-54. Ramps at the I-69/I-475 interchange are closed and detoured.

– I-69, Lapeer County, will have one lane open in each direction from Lake Pleasant Road to Newark Road.

– I-75, Genesee County, will have three lanes open at Coldwater Road with traffic shifted.

– US-23 Connector, Arenac County, will have one lane open in each direction. The southbound I-75 ramp to eastbound US-23 Connector will remain closed. US-23/M-13 has one lane open in each direction through Standish. Worth Road and Lincoln Road are closed over I-75, with Melita Road closed over the US-23 Connector.

– M-65, Arenac County, will have one alternating lane of traffic open via a temporary signal from Main Street to East Turner Road.

– M-25 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, has one lane open in each direction from Hancock Street to M-136.

– M-90, Sanilac County, is closed and detoured over the Black River via Todd Road, Galbraith Line Road, and Wildcat Road.

For more information, contact MDOT Bay Region Communications Representative Jocelyn Garza at 989-245-7117. Follow the Bay Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Bay.

Southern Michigan

– I-69, Clinton County, has the following restrictions:

  • One lane of I-69 is closed in each direction with a traffic shift between I-96 and Airport Road.
  • The eastbound I-96 ramp to eastbound I-69 is closed.
  • The Francis Road ramp to eastbound I-69 is closed.
  • The eastbound I-69 ramp to Airport Road is closed.

– I-69, Eaton and Calhoun counties, has the following restrictions:

  • One lane of I-69 is closed in each direction with a traffic shift between I-94 and Ainger Road.
  • One lane of southbound I-69 is closed at M-50.
  • The southbound I-69 ramp to M-50 is closed.
  • The N Drive ramp to northbound I-69 is closed.

– I-75, Monroe County, has one lane closed in each direction from north of Erie Road to north of Otter Creek Road.

– I-75, Monroe County, has the following restrictions:

  • The southbound I-75 left shoulder and left lane are closed from I-275 to north of Swan Creek.
  • The southbound I-75 exit to Swan Creek Road/Newport Road (Exit 21) is closed.
  • The Swan Creek Road/Newport Road ramp to southbound I-75 is closed.

– I-496, Ingham County, has the following restrictions:

  • One lane of I-496 is closed in each direction between M-99 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and Pennsylvania Avenue.
  • The Cedar Street/Larch Street ramp to westbound I-496 is closed.
  • The Pennsylvania Avenue ramp to westbound I-496 is closed.
  • The westbound I-496 ramp to Grand Avenue is closed.
  • The Grand Avenue ramp to eastbound I-496 is closed.
  • The eastbound I-496 ramp to Pennsylvania Avenue is closed.
  • The eastbound I-496 ramp to Cedar Street/Larch Street ramp is closed.

– M-59, Livingston County, has one westbound lane closed from Tipsico Lake Road to US-23.

– US-127, Ingham County, has one lane closed in each direction from the Jackson County line to M-36.

– US-127, Jackson County, has one lane closed in each direction just north of McDevitt Road.

– US-127/M-50 (West Avenue), Jackson County, has one northbound lane closed at I-94. The northbound US-127/M-50 (West Avenue) ramp to westbound I-94 is closed and detoured.

– US-24, Monroe County, has one lane closed in each direction with a traffic shift from Townsquare Boulevard to Newburg Road.

For more information, contact MDOT University Region Communications Representative Aaron Jenkins at 517-243-9075. Follow the University Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_LanJxn and www.twitter.com/MDOT_A2.

Metro Detroit

Macomb County 

– M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) has two lanes open in each direction between 12 Mile and 14 Mile roads; the eastbound I-94 ramp to M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) is closed.

– M-59 has two lanes open in each direction between M-97 (Groesbeck Highway) and I-94.

Oakland County 

– Grand River Avenue will be closed and detoured 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, May 30, between Gill Road and Orchard Lake Road for an event.

– I-75 has two lanes open in each direction between I-696 and 14 Mile Road; the I-696 ramps to northbound I-75 remain closed.

– M-5 has three northbound lanes open between 13 Mile and 14 Mile roads.

– M-24 (Washington Street) will be closed and detoured 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, May 30, between Broadway Street and East Street for an event.

– US-24 (Dixie Highway) will be closed and detoured 9:30 a.m. – noon Monday, May 30, for an event between Sashabaw Road and Williams Lake Road/Walton Boulevard.

Wayne County

– I-75 has the southbound ramp to Schaefer Avenue closed.

– I-75 will have three lanes open in each direction between Clay Street and Caniff Street.

– I-94 has two westbound lanes open at Outer Drive.

– I-94 will have the following restrictions:

  • The Frontenac Street, Burns Street, Cadillac Avenue, M-5 (Grand River Avenue), and Second Avenue bridges are all closed over I-94.
  • The eastbound I-96 ramp to eastbound I-94 will remain closed.
  • The eastbound I-94 ramp to northbound I-75 will remain closed.
  • The Beaubien Street ramp to eastbound I-94 will remain closed.

– I-275 has two lanes open in each direction between Eureka and 6 Mile roads.

– M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) will have two northbound lanes open between Randolph Street and Brush Street.

– M-8 will have one lane open in each direction between John R Road and Goddard Street. Dequindre Street will have one lane open in each direction over M-8.

– M-85 (Fort Street) will have one lane open in each direction at Woodmere Street.

– M-85 (Fort Street) has one lane open in each direction under I-75.

– M-153 (Ford Road) has two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane open between Evergreen Road and Outer Drive. Southbound Hines Drive is closed from Outer Drive to M-153.

– US-24 (Telegraph Road) has two lanes open in each direction between I-94 and US-12.

For more information, contact MDOT Metro Region Communications Representative Diane Cross at 248-752-0336. Follow the Metro Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_MetroDet.

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape across the state and an update on bonding

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, an update on Rebuilding Michigan road and bridge projects across the state as the 2022 construction season begins in earnest.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/10613118-rebuilding-michigan-projects-take-shape-across-the-state-and-an-update-on-bonding

TMT - Rebuilding Michigan Projects and Bonds

First, Gregg Brunner, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services, talks about how the department, consultants, and contractors mitigated challenges from spring weather as well as supply chains and labor availability. He also offers progress reports on several high-profile road projects.

Later, MDOT Finance Director Patrick McCarthy makes a repeat appearance to outline the Rebuilding Michigan bonding program and explain how it benefits the state.

Brunner talks about several high-profile projects that involve completely rebuilding busy segments of freeways including:

  • I-96 Flex Route in western Oakland County,
  • I-275 in western Wayne County,
  • I-69 near Flint,
  • I-94 in Jackson, which includes installation of a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at US-127, the third DDI in Michigan, and
  • I-196 west of Grand Rapids in Ottawa County.
Gregg Brunner

In his overview of the bonding program, McCarthy explains why the ratings agencies looked so favorably on the sales and how they sold at a premium.

Patrick McCarthy

He also explains how, with recent increases in the costs of materials and labor, MDOT’s issuance of the first rounds of bonds were especially timely and produced even more savings than previously expected. Looking in the bond sales also helped avoid some of the increases from inflation.


Podcast photo: I-69/I-475 interchange Rebuilding Michigan project in Flint.
First portrait: Gregg Brunner, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services.
Second portrait: MDOT Finance Director Patrick McCarthy.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape

MDOT: Surprises on traffic safety messages

New research yields surprises on traffic safety messages

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two academics studying the effect of safety messages on driver behavior.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/10520849-new-research-yields-surprises-on-traffic-safety-messages

TMT - New research yeilds surprises on traffic safety messages

First, Joshua Madsen, a professor of accounting and behavioral economics at the University of Minnesota, talks about a research report he co-authored — and highlighted in the Journal Science — that examined whether highway signs displaying traffic deaths reduce crashes.

In the second segment, Jerry Ullman, a senior research engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, talks about a perspective he wrote to accompany the story in Science.

Madsen

Madsen explains how he first encountered the messages while driving in Illinois and was struck by the starkness of the numbers. He wondered about context and how the numbers were derived.

As outlined in the story:

“Researchers focused on Texas, which consistently displayed the messages for one week every    month on 880 signs across the state’s highways. Researchers gathered data on all traffic crashes that happened on affected roads between 2010 and 2017. They compared crashes that occurred in weeks when fatality stats were displayed with those that happened during the rest of the month, taking care to compare only the accidents that happened at the same hour and on the same day of the week. They also controlled for weather and for holidays, which can independently affect the number of crashes.”

While conceding the difficulty of researching these topics, determining cause and affect and discerning what and when messages can influence behavior, Madsen cites one initiative with resonance: placing the wreckage of vehicles, which had been driven by a teenager, at rest areas.

Ullman

During his segment, Ullman talks about whether the effect of higher fatality numbers is plausible and questioned whether drivers are really processing larger and smaller death rates differently. He says he would like to see more research on the cause of the increase. 

Ullman also talks about the importance of message design and other research on how optimism bias informs our judgment.


Podcast player photo: MDOT Dynamic Message Sign board displaying a safety message.

First portrait: Joshua Madsen, a professor of accounting and behavioral economics at the University of Minnesota.

Second portrait: Jerry Ullman, a senior research engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.

Roadside parks reopening April 28

Roadside parks reopening April 28

MDOT E-mail

MDOT on facebook MDOT on Twitter MDOT on YouTube Mi Drive - Know before you go. MDOT on Instagram Sign up for E-mails form MDOT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                MEDIA CONTACT
April 21, 2022                                                                                      Dan Weingarten
906-250-4809
WeingartenD@Michigan.gov

 

Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

LANSING, Mich. ­– Most of the roadside parks operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will reopen for the season Thursday, 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 in the spring due to weather conditions. MDOT plans to reopen these parks in mid-May, weather permitting:

Alger County
– Deer Lake Roadside Park on M-28
– Kiva Roadside Park on US-41
– Scott Falls/Rathfoot Roadside Park on M-28
– Grand Island Harbor Scenic Turnout on M-28
– Au Train Roadside Park on M-28

Baraga County
– Tioga Creek Roadside Park on M-28
– Canyon Falls Roadside Park on US-41
– Baraga Cliff Roadside Park on US-41

Keweenaw County
– Esrey Roadside Park on M-26
– Hebard Roadside Park on M-26
– Great Sand Bay Roadside Park on M-26
– Snow Gauge Roadside Park on M-26

Luce County
– Old Flowing Well Roadside Park on M-28

Schoolcraft County
– Manistique River Roadside Park on M-77

While most parks are scheduled to be open 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.

In addition, the St. Ignace Rest Area on southbound I-75 will remain closed due to construction. It is expected to reopen in early May.

A map showing the status of MDOT roadside parks and a complete list of parks are available on the MDOT website.

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape

Agreement between Michigan and federal gov. for national parks

A pioneering agreement between Michigan and federal government for national parks

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two State of Michigan officials about the announcement of an agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) to work together and develop programs for more sustainable and equitable travel to NPS lands.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/10476040-a-pioneering-agreement-between-michigan-and-federal-government-for-national-parks

TMT - National Park Service

The announcement coincided with other Earth Week events across the state and featured a visit from Charles F. Sams III, who was sworn in Dec. 16, 2021, as NPS director, the first tribal citizen to lead the service in its 106-year history.

(Video story of the event.)

Trevor Pawl

First, Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer, explains the potential opportunities from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announced Tuesday, April 19, between NPS and several state departments.

Some of the possibilities include installing more charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, something NPS has already begun.

Jean Ruestman

Later, Jean Ruestman, who directs MDOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation and a key player in developing the MOU, joins the podcast to talk about the potential to provide broader accessibility to the parks.

She also explains how the Michigan Mobility Challenge, highlighted by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, could provide a model for inspiring ideas to increase access to the national parks.


Podcast photo: Morning fog in Yellowstone River Valley. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert.
First portrait: Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer
Second portrait: Jean Ruestman, MDOT Office of Passenger Transportation

Rebuilding Michigan projects take shape

Hundreds of road projects take shape

Even with rising costs, hundreds of road projects take shape

With prices of goods and services up across the board, it is no surprise that inflation is also affecting road and bridge building projects.

Road agencies across the country are facing higher prices for materials. Labor costs have also risen with a demand for skilled workers, challenging employers across all sectors and affecting the cost of home building like other construction.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/10444769-even-with-rising-costs-hundreds-of-road-projects-take-shape

TMT - Rising Costs

This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast is the 100th episode. The guest is Brad Wieferich, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Bureau of Development, who talks about how the hundreds of projects in the works or planned across the state will continue this year despite the pressures of inflation.

Brad Wieferich

Wieferich also explains that there’s no evidence that the Rebuilding Michigan bonding plan is the reason for the inflation, which is not unique to Michigan as outlined in data published by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

The higher prices are the result of a “perfect storm” as the pandemic, war in Ukraine and decades of disinvestment (meaning the longer we delay maintaining and building infrastructure, the more it costs) have taken a toll.

While emphasizing that this year’s MDOT projects remain on track, Wieferich explained that if prices continue to rise, planners may have to make adjustments to future projects in the five-year program.


Podcast photo: Crews work on the US-31 bridge in Grand Haven.
Portrait: Brad Wieferich, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Development.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.