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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

CONTACT: Jocelyn Hall, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-245-7117
                  HallJ20@Michigan.gov

Canadian currency toll rates at Blue Water Bridge
to decrease effective Oct. 1

Fast facts:
– MDOT previously announced a currency parity policy effective April 1, 2016, for the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.
– The Canadian rate for eastbound traffic will be reviewed and adjusted April 1 and Oct. 1 of each year.
– The rate adjustments are rounded to the nearest $0.25 and calculated based on the prior six-month average daily exchange rates between U.S. and Canadian currencies.

September 7, 2021 — In accordance with the Blue Water Bridge parity rate adjustment policy, toll rates paid in Canadian currency (CAD) will decrease by $0.25 beginning Oct. 1.

Based on the current average daily exchange rate, the toll rates below will be in effect through March 31, 2022.

• Passenger vehicle tolls will decrease to $3.75 (CAD) per trip.
• Extra axles will decrease to $3.75 (CAD) per trip.
• Trucks and buses per axle will decrease to $4 (CAD) per trip.

Travel restrictions to Canada have recently been updated by the Canada Border Services Agency. Please review border security criteria ahead of traveling to reduce frustration. U.S. Customs and Border Protection current travel restrictions are expected to remain in place through Sept. 21.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2021

CONTACT: James Lake, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-0993, LakeJ1@Michigan.gov

21,000 visit the Mackinac Bridge for the ’21 annual bridge walk

September 6, 2021 – Chilly breezes and overcast skies turned to warm sunshine for the return of the Mackinac Bridge Walk, welcoming back a crowd of about 21,000 to the event after a one-year hiatus.

         “Returning for the walk this year after the only cancellation since 1958, we weren’t sure what to expect,” said Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Bridge Director Kim Nowack. “Although total participation is less than we’ve had in recent years, there were still thousands of very happy faces on the bridge today, all glad to revive this tradition.”

A time-lapse video of this year’s walk is now available to view. The bridge, which closed at 6:30 a.m. to all vehicle traffic for the walk, reopened just before noon as scheduled.

          Based on the success of the 2018 and 2019 events, the 2021 Annual Bridge Walk again started from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, which eliminates the need for busing and offers additional options for participants.

          The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 walk was the 63rd event. Between 25,000 and 30,000 people have participated in recent years.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, MorosiR@Michigan.gov

Pavement repair requires closing I-696 ramps to

northbound I-75 this weekend in Oakland County

Fast facts:

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

– Weather permitting, this work is expected to be completed by Labor Day weekend.

– A single-lane closure on southbound I-75 from Coolidge Highway to Livernois Road will begin Monday.

August 19, 2021 — Pavement and barrier wall repair will begin this weekend on the eastbound and westbound I-696 ramps to northbound I-75. Weather permitting, this work will be completed by Labor Day weekend.

The eastbound I-696 ramp to northbound I-75 will close beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. The westbound I-696 ramp to northbound I-75 will close at 4 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22.  Both ramps are scheduled to reopen by sunset on Thursday, Sept. 2, in time for Labor Day weekend travel.

Further north, punch list work will require the right lane of southbound I-75 to be closed from Coolidge Highway to Livernois Road. The single-lane closure will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, and is expected to be removed by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27.

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                                            WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

CONTACT: Kim Nowack, Mackinac Bridge Authority, 906-643-7600

Still time to plan your walk  2021 Mackinac Bridge Walk just a few weeks away:

August 18, 2021 — The end of summer is quickly approaching and that means the 2021 Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day, Sept. 6, is right around the corner.

     “Whether you’re resuming your tradition of walking the bridge on Labor Day or planning to join us for the first time, the return of the walk in 2021 is pretty exciting,” said Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Bridge Director Kim Nowack. “We’ve been preparing for much of the year to make sure the walk is better than ever.”

     Based on the success of the 2018 and 2019 events, the MBA will again start the 2021 Annual Bridge Walk from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, which eliminates the need for busing and offers additional options for participants. The bridge walk was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

     A video posted on the MBA website at www.MackinacBridge.org/Walk explains the bridge walk schedule and the choices people will have whether they start from the north or south ends of the bridge.

     Walkers essentially have three main options, outlined in the video:

• Starting from either end of the bridge and walking toward the center, turning around at the midpoint and returning to the city they started from, where their transportation is located. The turnaround points will move toward the ends of the bridge beginning at 10 a.m., but walkers can walk at least a portion of the bridge if they start by 11:30 a.m. Walkers must be on the side of the bridge they wish to return to before 10 a.m.
• Walking the entire length of the bridge starting from either end. Those who choose this option must reach the midpoint before 10 a.m. or they will be turned back. Anyone who walks the entire bridge must arrange their own transportation back to the side they started once the bridge reopens to public traffic at noon.
• Crossing the bridge, starting from either end, and then turning around and walking back to the side they started from. In this option, walkers will need to cross the midpoint on their return trip by 10 a.m. or they will be turned back and need to find their own transportation back across the bridge after it reopens at noon.

     For participant health and safety, the MBA urges participants to follow CDC recommendations that suggest you wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings.

     The bridge will again be closed to public traffic during the 2021 walk, from 6:30 a.m. to noon, based on recommendations from the Michigan State Police and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Emergency vehicles will still be permitted to cross the bridge but no public vehicles will be allowed until the walk concludes and participants are off the bridge.

     People who are interested in receiving text messages about bridge closures, including closure information for the Annual Bridge Walk, can sign up for Mackinac County 911’s RAVE Alert System updates. There is no cost to receive these updates, aside from any texting fees from the participant’s mobile coverage plan. To opt-in to this text alert system:

• Text “MacBridge” to 67283.
• Users will receive this reply, verifying participation in the text alerting system:

“Welcome to Mac Bridge. Reply STOP MacBridge to Cancel. MSG & Data Rates May Apply MSG Frequency Varies.”

• A second reply will follow: “Welcome to the Mackinac Bridge Text Alerting System. TO OPT OUT of this alerting system reply STOP MacBridge.”

     The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020. The 2021 walk will be the 63rd event. Between 25,000 and 30,000 people have participated in recent years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

CONTACT: Diane Cross, MDOT Office of Communications, CrossD2@Michigan.gov  

Reminder: M-1 (Woodward Avenue) Dream Cruise restrictions for commercial trucks and trailers in Oakland County Aug. 21

COUNTY:

Oakland

COMMUNITIES:

Berkley

Birmingham

Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Township

Ferndale

Huntington Woods

Pleasant Ridge

Pontiac

Royal Oak

ROADWAY:

M-1 (Woodward Avenue) between M-102 (8 Mile Road) and Pontiac Loop

M-1 TRAFFIC CONTROL TIME FRAME:

Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021

9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS:

Due to security concerns, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has been granted a temporary traffic control order to restrict commercial vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds and all vehicles with trailers from M-1 (Woodward Avenue) the day of the Woodward Dream Cruise. Signs will be placed along M-1 in addition to freeway dynamic message boards on I-696 and I-75 advising of these restrictions.