This Labor Day holiday weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on about two-thirds of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1 million people from Michigan are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 99 out of 133 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT construction zones for the holiday, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures, may remain in place.
Travelers are also reminded that, for safety and security, the Mackinac Bridge will be closed to public traffic on Labor Day from 6:30 a.m. to noon during the Annual Bridge Walk. Southbound I-75 and US-2 traffic will be stopped at Exit 344 on the north side of the bridge; northbound I-75 traffic will be stopped at Exit 337 on the south end. Michigan State Police will have additional personnel along routes approaching the bridge, and two Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) mechanics will be on patrol on both sides of the bridge to assist any motorists with vehicle problems. For more information, visit the MBA website at www.mackinacbridge.org/walk or call the MBA at 906-643-7600.
“We know this weekend is the final big travel weekend of the summer,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “It’s important to remember that if we all want to be able to enjoy this time, we need to stay safe on the road and behind the wheel. Following posted speed limits and avoiding any and all distractions while driving are necessary to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.”
While preliminary 2017 data shows that the overall numbers of work zone crashes and resulting injuries were down from the previous year, the number of people killed in those crashes were up. This past June, a work zone crash resulted in the death of one construction worker and serious injuries to another. Moving Michigan Toward Zero Deaths on Michigan roads can only be accomplished if all drivers collectively work to reduce speed and distractions when approaching and driving through a work zone. This video tells the story of how a split second of inattention in a work zone can turn into a heartbreaking incident: https://youtu.be/AimUG-y6cHA.
The following is a list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during the Labor Day holiday. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location. The list is current as of Aug. 29.
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.
Upper Peninsula
– I-75 Business Spur in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, has one lane open in each direction from the I-75 interchange to Meridian Street.
– I-75/M-28 interchange, Chippewa County, has one lane open in each direction with a temporary signal.
– M-28, Gogebic County, is closed over Jackson Creek. Traffic is detoured on US-2 and M-26.
– M-35, Menominee County, will have traffic maintained over the Cedar River bridge with a temporary traffic signal.
– M-64, Ontonagon County, has one lane open on the bridge over the Ontonagon River with a temporary signal.
– M-203, Houghton County, has one lane open in each direction on the bridge over Swedetown Creek with a temporary signal.
– US-2, Mackinac County, is closed over the Cut River with a posted detour.
– US-2/US-41, Delta County, has one lane open in each direction on the eastbound lanes from Gladstone to Rapid River.
– US-2/US-41/M-35, Delta County, has two lanes open between Mead Road and County Road 426 with a traffic shift.
