How Complete Streets support mobility for all
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Eastbound Blue Water Bridge improvements
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2024
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MEDIA CONTACT Jocelyn Garza 989-245-7117 [email protected] |
Eastbound Blue Water Bridge improvements shifting all traffic to westbound bridge starting May 29
– The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will complete maintenance on the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) May 29 to October.
– This work will close the eastbound span of the BWB from the U.S. to Canada, carrying both directions of traffic on the westbound bridge span.
– During work, wide loads will be restricted to less than 10 feet and dedicated lanes for commuter pass holders and buses will not be accommodated.
PORT HURON, Mich. - Beginning May 29, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) to complete maintenance. This project will be managed by MDOT, and address required maintenance on the eastbound BWB span connecting Port Huron, Michigan, and Point Edward, Ontario.
To reduce impacts on traffic, both directions of BWB traffic will be carried on the westbound span. One outgoing lane will be reserved for eastbound traffic heading into Canada, becoming two lanes after center span. One outgoing lane will be reserved for westbound traffic heading into the U.S. and becoming two lanes after center span. MDOT is coordinating this work with maintenance the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) will complete to reduce impacts to customers.
While the westbound BWB span carries both directions of traffic, the following impacts should be expected:
- Dedicated lanes for commuter pass holders and buses cannot be accommodated.
- Wide loads will be restricted to less than 10 feet.
The BWB is an essential economic link between Canada and the United States. This important project continues the commitment between MDOT and FBCL to maintain and preserve the safety and reliability of the BWB.
For more information:
Dave Smith
MDOT Blue Water Bridge
810-434-3274
[email protected]
Jocelyn Garza
MDOT Communications Specialist
989-245-7117
[email protected]
I-75 project in northern Oakland County delayed
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2024
This weekend’s planned traffic shift for I-75 project
in northern Oakland County delayed
VILLAGE OF CLARKSTON, Mich. – Due to unforeseen delays, the traffic shift planned for the I-75 project between M-15 (Ortonville Road) and the Oakland/Genesee county line this weekend is cancelled. The traffic shift instead will occur mid- to late next week. Once in place, there will be two lanes of traffic in each direction on the existing southbound I-75 lanes throughout construction.
Upcoming Closures:
Beginning 3 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31:
- Northbound and southbound I-75 will have two lanes open in each direction between M-15 and Baldwin Road with traffic shifted to the southbound I-75 side of the freeway.
- The following entrance ramps will be closed:
- Northbound M-15 to northbound I-75
- Southbound M-15 to northbound I-75
- Northbound Dixie Highway to northbound I-75
- Southbound Dixie Highway to northbound I-75
- East Holly Road to northbound I-75
- Dixie Highway (Mile Marker 106) to northbound I-75
- Only the northbound I-75 Exit 101 ramp to Grange Hall Road will be closed. All other exits on northbound I-75 will be open.
- The Davisburg Rest Area on northbound I-75 will be closed.
As the work is weather dependent, it might get pushed until the following weekend.
Current Closures:
- Southbound I-75 will be reduced to one lane for barrier wall setting from Baldwin Road to M-15 through Tuesday, March 19.
- Southbound I-75 Exit 106 to Saginaw Road is closed through late fall.
- The Saginaw Road entrance ramp to southbound I-75 (Mile Marker 106) is closed through late fall.
- The Dixie Highway entrance ramp to southbound I-75 (Mile Marker 93) will be closed though late fall.
Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing approximately $160 million to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years.
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,936 jobs.
Paint the Plow program for Michigan high schools
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2024
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MEDIA CONTACT Courtney Bates 517-242-0950 [email protected] |
MDOT introduces statewide Paint the Plow program for
Michigan high schools
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 Paint the Plow program. This program offers a unique opportunity for MDOT to partner with area schools, using students’ creativity to communicate safe winter driving practices for all Michigan residents.
The Paint the Plow program is open to all Michigan high schools, including technical and vocational programs. Students are invited to submit a creative and original design, reflecting their individual school, while promoting a selected safety theme. This year’s safety theme is “Go hands-free. Just drive. It’s the law.”
The safety theme serves as a reminder to motorists that new legislation has made it illegal to hold and use an electronic device while driving in Michigan. While the legislation has been in place since June 2023, drivers across the state continue to engage in unsafe driving practices using electronic devices. Communicating the importance of this message on MDOT plow blades tasked with clearing our roads of ice and snow through the winter will serve as an additional reminder of the responsibility all drivers must take when operating their vehicle.
MDOT will accept Paint the Plow design applications through Friday, May 17. Selected schools will be notified before the end of the 2024 school year and arrangements will be made for the delivery of their plow blade in the fall. Dependent on location through the state, schools will have approximately six weeks to complete their design before MDOT staff return for the completed plow blade in time to ready trucks for the winter maintenance season. Painted plow blades will be visible along various state trunklines in Michigan through the winter.
Interested schools can visit www.Michigan.gov/PaintThePlow for more information, and to submit their design.
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Work zones are temporary,
Bad decisions behind the wheel can last forever.
Photo: Ovid-Elsie High School honors art students completed a design for the 2023-2024 pilot season of MDOT’s Paint the Plow program, incorporating the safety message, “Don’t rush in ice and slush.”
Repaving on Mackinac Bridge starts March 25
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2024
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MEDIA CONTACT James Lake 906-250-0993 [email protected] |
Repaving on Mackinac Bridge starts March 25
ST. IGNACE, Mich. – The Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) will begin a two-season repaving project on the bridge’s north viaduct and approach truss spans March 25, weather permitting.
Repaving, deck repairs, and joint repairs on the two northbound lanes of the bridge will begin March 25 and is scheduled to be completed by May 23. Traffic will be maintained with one lane open in each direction during construction. All lane closures will be lifted after May 23.
Work has been scheduled to help minimize delays to traffic and disruptions to special events on the bridge.
“As with any construction in northern Michigan, the best weather unfortunately coincides with the highest traffic volumes,” said MBA Chief Engineer Cole Cavalieri. “We’re glad we’ve been able to schedule this work to occur before traffic peaks for the summer to reduce delays for travelers.”
Weekend traffic peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., often resulting in traffic backups, even with all toll lanes open. Drivers should consider crossing at off-peak times or prepare for delays.
Wide-load restrictions will be in place in both directions for any vehicles wider than 10 feet during construction. Wider loads will be allowed to cross once per day between 7 and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and traffic will be stopped for brief periods for those crossings.
Due to this work, the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau’s annual Jeep the Mac event will not include a bridge crossing. Instead, the Bureau has renamed the event, Jeep the Yoop, scheduled for May 10-12.
Work will resume in late March 2025 with repaving of the two southbound lanes. The overall project is scheduled to be completed, with all lanes reopened, by May 22, 2025.
The MBA’s sole source of funding is from tolls and fees collected, with all revenue used to maintain, operate, and protect the bridge. Live traffic camera views of the bridge, updates on bridge conditions, toll rates, and information on the MacPass program can all be found on the MBA website: www.MackinacBridge.org.
Redevelopment efforts at site of former Palace of Auburn Hills
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2024
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MEDIA CONTACT Michael Frezell 517-281-6519 [email protected] |
Transportation grant will support redevelopment efforts at
site of former Palace of Auburn Hills
LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the award of a state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant that will support critical redevelopment efforts at the site of the former Palace of Auburn Hills with the potential to create up to 963 new jobs and spark $278 million private investment in the city of Auburn Hills.
Administered by MDOT, the TEDF grant helps finance public highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers. The road project submitted by the City of Auburn Hills will improve M-24 (Lapeer Road), which will increase investment and job creation at the former Palace of Auburn Hills site and support a General Motors (GM) facility.
“The City of Auburn Hills appreciates MDOT’s support to install roadway improvements that will facilitate proper traffic flow in and out of the new GM facility,” said Mayor Brian Marzolf. “This area of Lapeer Road serves as a critical thoroughfare and this cooperative project will also increase the safety in the area. Perhaps most exciting is that this new building will greatly enhance economic vitality as the new plant will serve the needs of the GM Orion Assembly plant and the future of electric vehicles. Road projects like this connect workers to jobs and provide important links for our communities.”
“We appreciate MDOT’s infrastructure grant for the new Auburn Hills supplier logistics center that will support GM’s Orion Assembly plant,” said Paris Pavlou, executive director of Global Purchasing and Manufacturing Services, General Motors. “The improvements that will result on Lapeer Road will benefit not only GM, but our suppliers and the community.”
Years after the demolition of the Palace of Auburn Hills, the dormant site will be re-imagined with a new development. This development is for a supplier facility to serve GM’s expansion at its Orion Assembly Plant. GM will be leasing the facility from the property developer, PAH Real Estate, a subsidiary of Schostak Brothers and Co. Piston Automotive will be operating the facility on behalf of GM, pending approval of additional state incentives.
Piston Automotive is a part of Piston Group, a company comprised of Piston Automotive, LLC; Piston Interiors, LLC; Detroit Thermal Systems, LLC; and A. Lava and Son, LLC. The group was founded by former NBA champion Vinnie Johnson. Piston Group is one of the largest private, minority-owned automotive suppliers in North America. It designs, engineers, assembles, and manufactures a wide variety of automotive parts and systems. This planned $278 million combined private investment from Piston Automotive and PAH Real Estate has the potential to create 963 jobs through the transformation of the site of the former Palace of Auburn Hills.
The site selection process prioritized the proximity to the Orion Township plant, the road infrastructure between and surrounding the two sites, the timeline for a site to be operational, and site specification requirements. To secure this investment, the City of Auburn Hills, MDOT, the Road Commission for Oakland County, and PAH Real Estate worked collaboratively to determine the infrastructure needs and find a solution.
“It has been great working with MDOT, the City of Auburn Hills, and GM on the TEDF grant. We are very excited to have been selected and we are looking forward to breaking ground on this electrifying project,” said Jeffrey Schostak, president of Schostak Brothers.
In its current state, access to the site is inadequate for the proposed use of generating more than 1,000 daily commercial vehicle trips and more than 2,000 daily passenger trips to and from the site, which could cause significant impacts on traffic in the area. Proposed improvements, such as widening the roadway of southbound M-24 to include additional through-lanes, right and left-turn lanes, reconfiguring crossovers between the northbound and southbound lanes, modernizing and relocating traffic signals, and increasing access to the I-75 connector ramp, were deemed necessary.
“For nearly three decades, The Palace of Auburn Hills served as an economic and entertainment hub not just for the city, but the region and entire state,” said state Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield. “I am excited to see these state funds help breathe new life into this memorable location, creating jobs and continuing to support our vital auto industry while also improving our roads and transportation needs for all.”
“I’m thrilled to help deliver on the promises we’ve made to put people first by creating opportunities for more jobs and to grow the local economy,” said state Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac. “This TEDF grant will help Auburn Hills develop over 900 new jobs and is expected to generate millions in private investments. The improvements on M-24 funded through this grant will bolster the infrastructure with a new highway and other road and street projects, allowing future redevelopment of the former Palace of Auburn Hills site. This new grant is great news for the hard-working people in my district, especially. This investment from the state is an example of the future of Michigan. We are investing in people and infrastructure. Michigan is ready for world-class opportunities that spark economic expansion and growth.”
Total project cost for these road improvements is $2,533,620. Category A of the TEDF will provide $2,007,820, with the remaining non-construction project costs, including 20 percent match of $525,800, provided by the City of Auburn Hills and PAH Real Estate.
Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, TEDF “Category A” or “Targeted Industries Program” grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that allow road agencies to respond quickly to the transportation needs of expanding companies and eliminate inadequate roadways as an obstacle to private investment and job creation. Eligible road agencies include MDOT, county road commissions, cities, and villages. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.