MDOT making holiday travel easier for motorists

 The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will make travel easier for motorists this Fourth of July holiday by lifting traffic restrictions on 118 of 162 projects statewide. Beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, and continuing until 6 a.m. Monday, July 8, MDOT will suspend construction wherever possible on state roads and bridges. This will help make travel easier for the estimated 1.4 million Michigan residents AAA Michigan says will be traveling this holiday weekend.

“MDOT knows the Fourth of July is a great time of year for motorists from all over to enjoy Pure Michigan,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “While most MDOT work zones will be inactive for the holiday, there are still areas that must have lane restrictions kept in place. We urge all motorists to drive with caution through work zones. Be sure to plan ahead, buckle up, and put the cell phone away while driving so everyone gets to their destination – and back home – safely.”

Motorists also are encouraged to regularly check MDOT’s popular Mi Drive traffic Web site (www.michigan.gov/drive) for traffic incident alerts, live traffic Web cams, and additional construction information. The public also is reminded to update their GPS devices if they plan on traveling through Port Huron as the ramps to Canada and the city have changed. More information can be found on the MDOT #MetroMerge blog.

Over the Fourth of July holiday, the following 44 work zones will have active lane restrictions in place:

Upper Peninsula

– 3 Mile Road in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, will have one lane open on the bridge over I-75, controlled by a temporary traffic signal. All lanes are open on I-75.

– M-26 in Laurium, Houghton County, will have northbound traffic detoured on Isle Royale and Third streets.

– M-28 in Raco, Chippewa County, will have narrow lanes and a traffic shift.

– M-35 in Menominee, Menominee County, will be detoured on US-41 and 48th Avenue.

– M-64, Ontonagon County, will have one lane open controlled by temporary traffic signals on the bridges over the Mineral, Duck and Potato rivers.

– M-189 in Iron River, Iron County, will be detoured onto city streets.

For more information, contact James Lake, Superior Region Communications Representative, at 906-786-1830, ext. 311.

Northern Lower Michigan

– M-65, Alpena County, is closed over the north branch of Thunder Bay River. A detour is posted.

– US-31, Grand Traverse County, has a temporary signal on the bridge over Tobeco Creek (between Acme and Elk Rapids).

For more information, contact Bob Felt, North Region Communications Specialist, at 989-731-5090.

West Michigan

– I-96 in Crockery Township, Ottawa County, has one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift. Ramp closures include:
– The eastbound M-104 ramp to eastbound I-96,
– The westbound I-96 exit ramp to M-104 in Nunica, and
– The eastbound I-96 exit ramp to Cleveland Street (Nunica exit).

– I-96, Ionia County, has two lanes open in each direction over the Portland Trail, with traffic shifted.

– M-11 (28th Street) in Kentwood/Cascade Township, Kent County, has one lane open in each direction with traffic shifted between Patterson Avenue and I-96.

– US-131 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, has two northbound lanes open from I-196 to Ann Street, and all southbound lanes open. The eastbound I-196 ramp to northbound US-131 is closed, as is the Leonard Street/Scribner Avenue ramp to northbound US-131.

For more information, contact John Richard, Grand Region Communications Representative, at 616-451-4063.

Southwest Michigan

– I-94, Berrien County, will have two lanes open in each direction from Sawyer to Bridgman.

– I-194 in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, will have one lane open in each direction from Columbia Road to Hamblin Street.

– M-62 in Dowagiac, Cass County, will have one lane open over the two Dowagiac Creek bridges.

– US-12, Berrien County, will have one lane open in each direction from Mayflower Road to M-139, between Buchanan and Niles.

– US-12 in New Buffalo, Berrien County, will have one lane open in each direction at the I-94 interchange. One lane will be open over the Galien River bridge east of Hoder Road.

– US-131 in Constantine, St. Joseph County, will have all lanes open with local detours in place.

For more information, contact Nick Schirripa, Southwest Region Communications Representative, at 269-337-3927.

Central Michigan and Thumb

– I-69, Genesee County, has one lane closed in each direction over Irish Road with traffic shifted.

– I-75, Saginaw County, still has all southbound lanes closed between the north and south junctions of I-675 with traffic shifted and a posted detour in effect. In addition:
– Wadsworth Road is closed with traffic detoured to Outer Drive, where motorists will take Janes Road to Towerline Road.
– The M-13 ramp to southbound I-75 is closed. Traffic is rerouted to I-675, where motorists can take southbound I-75.
– From Wednesday, July 3, to Saturday, July 6:
— Southbound I-75 traffic will be detoured via southbound I-675.
— The M-81 ramp to southbound I-75 will be closed. Traffic is rerouted to M-13, then to southbound I-675, where motorists can take southbound I-75.
– From Sunday, July 7, to Tuesday, July 9:
— Northbound I-75 traffic will be detoured via northbound I-675.
— The M-81 ramp to northbound I-75 will be closed.
– The Adams Street ramp to southbound I-75 is closed. Traffic is rerouted to Tittabawassee Road, then to I-675, where motorists can take southbound I-75.
– The northbound I-675 ramp to southbound I-75 is closed. Motorists can take northbound I-75 to M-84 to access southbound I-75.

– M-18, Midland County, has one lane open in each direction over US-10, with traffic maintained using temporary signals.

– M-46, Sanilac County, has shoulder closures west of Sandusky, from Townline Road to Walmart.

– M-53 in Bad Axe, Huron County, is closed from Outer Drive to just west of Port Crescent Street with a posted detour.

– M-57, Gratiot County, has one lane open in each direction over US-127 with traffic shifted.

For more information, contact Anita Richardson, Bay Region Communications Representative, at 989-239-1732.

Southern Michigan

– I-96, Livingston County, has three lanes open in each direction near Latson Road with a traffic shift.

– M-43 (Grand River Avenue), Ingham County, has two lanes open in each direction between Bogue Street and Northwind Drive in East Lansing.

– M-50, Eaton County, is closed between Vermontville Highway and Needmore Highway, north of Charlotte.

– M-50 in Charlotte, Eaton County, is closed between Cochran Avenue and I-69 with a detour posted. Also, there is one lane open on M-50 over I-69 with temporary signals.

– M-50, Jackson County, has one lane of traffic open using temporary traffic signals just north of Brooklyn.

– M-99, Jackson County, is closed with a detour posted at the bridge over the south branch of Rice Creek, just south of Springport.

– US-23, Monroe County, has two lanes open in each direction between Sterns Road and US-223. At the US-23/US-223 interchange, the northbound US-23 exit ramp to US-223 is closed with a detour posted.

– US-24 (Telegraph Road), Monroe County, has one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift between Stewart Road and Hurd Street.

– US-127, Ingham County, has two lanes open in each direction at Lake Lansing Road with a traffic shift. Lake Lansing Road has two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane open, with traffic shifted.

For more information, contact Kari Arend, University Region Communications Representative, at 517-750-0406.

Metro Detroit Region

City of Detroit:

– I-94 has the eastbound and westbound exits to Van Dyke Avenue closed. Van Dyke Avenue remains closed over I-94 with a posted detour.

– I-94 has the eastbound and westbound exits to West Grand Boulevard closed. West Grand Boulevard remains closed over I-94 with a posted detour.

– M-85 (Fort Street) is reduced to one lane open in each direction between Oakwood Boulevard and Miller Road.

Wayne County:

– I-75 has the northbound exit to Eureka Road closed. A detour is posted.

– I-75 has the southbound exit to West Road closed. A detour is posted

– M-85 (Fort Street) has one lane open in each direction between Pennsylvania and Sibley roads.

– M-102 (Eight Mile Road) has two lanes open in each direction between M-39 (Southfield Freeway) and US-24 (Telegraph Road).

Macomb County:

– 23 Mile Road is reduced to two lanes over M-53.

– I-94 has the westbound left lane closed from Masonic Boulevard to I-696.

– M-53 is closed in each direction between 34 Mile and Ebeling roads with a posted detour.

– M-97 (Groesbeck Highway) has two lanes open in each direction between 14 Mile and Hayes roads.