(LANSING, MI.)– This Memorial Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on almost 70 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.2 million people from Michigan are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 2.5 percent increase from the 2016 holiday. AAA says 2017 will mark Michigan’s fifth consecutive year of growth in Memorial Day travel. Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, May 26, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 78 out of 111 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. “As we approach Memorial Day and the traditional kickoff to the summer travel season in our beautiful state, it is for good reason that we remind you to keep your eyes on the road. Most construction work will be suspended for the holiday, but in non-holiday times, please pay special attention in work zones,” State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle said. “Just two weeks ago, an inattentive driver smashed into a county road crew’s work equipment on a Michigan freeway. Thankfully, the driver was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries but the equipment sustained $25,000 in damage. When the holidays are over and construction resumes, please slow down in work zones.” 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 and app 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. Upper Peninsula – M-94, Marquette County, is closed at the Chocolay River with a posted detour. – M-553, Marquette County, has lane shifts and narrow lanes north of County Road 480. – US-2, Delta County, has one lane open in each direction between County Road 426 and 18.3 Road. – US-2, Dickinson County, has one lane open in each direction between Pine Mountain Road and Moon Lake Road. – US-41 in Hancock, Houghton County, has one lane open in each direction between Reservation Street and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. The ramp to M-26 is closed with posted northbound and southbound detours. – US-41 in Marquette, Marquette County, has one lane open in each direction between McClellan Avenue and Front Street. 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.
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com