MDOT Will Rein In Most Construction Projects for Memorial Day Holiday

Commercial truckers trying to get home to their families for the holiday weekend and visitors both inside and from outside of the state will be happy to know that the orange traffic cones and barrels as well as many cross-hatched barricades will come down for the Memorial Day weekend on nearly three-quarters of current construction projects around the state.

With the Memorial Day weekend at hand, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on almost 73-percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.3 million people from Michigan are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the long holiday weekend, a nearly 5-percent increase from the 2017 holiday and the most in more than a decade.

Beginning at 3 pm this Friday, May 25th, and continuing until 6 am Tuesday, May 29th, 89 out of 122 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT construction zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures, may remain in place.

State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle says, “We expect record travel this summer as people take in all our beautiful state has to offer.” Steudle adds, “That’s why it is more important than ever that we slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in construction zones. Let’s be mindful of the men and women working there who want to go home to their families at the end of the day, just as we do.”

Preliminary 2017 data shows there were 4,204 work zone crashes in Michigan (down from 4,994 in 2016), with 25 people losing their lives (up from 18 in 2016). There were also 73 serious injuries (down from 76 in 2016). Each one of these numbers represents the kind of tragedy that can happen when drivers lose focus or don’t follow the rules in a work zone. The video available in the link below tells the story of how a split second of inattention can turn into a heartbreaking incident:

https://youtu.be/AimUG-y6cHA

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 the Memorial Day weekend. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location.

Southwest Michigan

I-94, Berrien County, has two lanes open in each direction from the state line to New Buffalo with a traffic shift.
I-94, Van Buren County, has eastbound lanes shifted from 56th Street to M-51.
M-66, St. Joseph County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the St. Joseph River via temporary signals.
M-99 in Albion, Calhoun County, is closed and detoured.
US-12, Berrien County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Galien River via temporary signals.
US-12, Branch County, is closed between Bronson and Coldwater for work over the Indiana Northeastern Railroad. Detoured posted.

West Michigan

I-96 in Grand Rapids has all eastbound lanes closed between Alpine and Plainfield avenues with traffic detoured onto southbound US-131. The Alpine Avenue exit will be open.
US-31, Oceana County, will have one lane closed in both directions from Shelby Road to Polk Road. All ramps are open.
US-131 in Algoma Township, Kent County, has lane closures and a traffic shift between 10 Mile and 14 Mile roads.

Upper Peninsula

M-64 in Ontonagon, Ontonagon County, will be restricted to one lane in alternating directions over the Ontonagon River via temporary signals.
M-123, Chippewa County, will be restricted to one lane in alternating directions over Black Creek via temporary signals. A 9-foot width restriction is in place.
US-2, Dickinson County, has two lanes open between Calvary Street and Dawn’s Lake Road with a traffic shift.
US-2, Mackinac County, is closed over the Cut River with a posted detour.
US-2/US-41/M-35, Delta County, has two lanes open between Mead Road and County Road 426 with a traffic shift.

Northern Lower Peninsula

M-18, Roscommon County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over I-75 via temporary signals.
M-72, Kalkaska County, will have a traffic shift between Baggs Road and the village of Kalkaska.

Central Michigan and Thumb

Stewart Avenue in Flint will have one lane open in each direction between M-54 and James O. Cole Boulevard.
I-69 in Flint has two lanes open in each direction on the eastbound roadway from I-75 to I-475.
I-75, Bay County, has one southbound lane closed at Salzburg Road to accommodate emergency bridge repairs.
M-20 in Midland, Midland County, has one lane open in each direction on the bridge over the Tittabawassee River.
M-46, Saginaw County, will be closed and detoured between Orr Road and Hemlock Road.
M-46 in Port Sanilac, Sanilac County, is closed and detoured from M-25 to Whitney Drive.

Metro Detroit

14th Street is closed over I-75 for bridge work.
I-75 has three northbound lanes open and one southbound lane open between Springwells Street and Clark Street.
I-75 ramps to and from Rosa Parks Boulevard remain closed for bridge work.
I-94 has all ramps closed at M-3 for bridge work.
I-94 has the exits to Chene Avenue closed for bridge work. Chene Avenue is closed over I-94.
M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) has two northbound lanes open and one southbound lane open over I-94 for bridge work.

Macomb County

I-696 has all westbound lanes closed from I-94 to Dequindre Road for reconstruction.
M-59 (Hall Road) has three westbound lanes open with traffic shifted from Romeo Plank Road to Garfield Road.
M-59 (Hall Road) will have three eastbound lanes open from Hayes Road to Garfield Road.

Oakland County