Traffic restrictions lifted to ease Labour Day weekend travel

NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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This Labor Day holiday weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on more than two-thirds of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 106 out of 151 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 may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures. 

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. For more information, visit the MBA website at www.MackinacBridge.org/Walk or call the MBA at 906-643-7600.

"With this being the final big travel weekend of the summer, it's even more important to focus on the task at hand and pay attention to the road while driving," said State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. "We remind all drivers to follow posted speed limits and avoid any and all distractions. We want to make sure everyone enjoys their holiday weekend and that we all make it back home safely."

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

Upper Peninsula

- I-75 Business Spur (BS) in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, has at least one lane open in each direction between I-75 and 10th Avenue. 

- M-28, Alger County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over the Sand River via temporary traffic signals.

- M-95, Marquette County, will have one alternating lane open on both the Trout Falls Creek and Michigamme River bridges via temporary traffic signals.

- US-2 in Naubinway, Mackinac County, will have at least one lane open in each direction between Beach Road and Borgstrom Road.

- US-8 near Norway, Dickinson County, is closed at the state line with a posted detour.

- US-41/M-28, Marquette County, has one eastbound lane open at Brickyard Road; traffic is shifted to temporary lanes. Eastbound access to Marquette County Road 492 and Brickyard Road is detoured.

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.

Northern Lower Peninsula

- M-55, Manistee County, will be closed between M-37 and Wellston with a posted detour.

- M-72, Crawford County, will have one lane open in each direction west of Grayling.

- US-31 in Petoskey, Emmet County, will have one lane open in each direction between Mitchell Street and Fairview Avenue with traffic shifts.

- US-131, Wexford County, will have one lane open in each direction at Boon Road.

- Old US-131, Wexford County, will have a temporary traffic signal at US-131.

For more information, contact MDOT North Region Communications Representative James Lake at 906-250-0993. Follow the North Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Traverse.

West Michigan

- I-96 in Grand Rapids has lane closures and a traffic shift between M-21 (Fulton Street) and Leonard Street.

- I-96 in Grand Rapids has all eastbound lanes closed at Leonard Street with traffic detoured onto southbound US-131 to eastbound I-196.

- I-96, Ionia County, has traffic shifts in place near Cutler Road. Cutler Road is closed over I-96.

- I-196 in Grand Rapids has lane closures and a traffic shift between Fuller Avenue and M-44 (East Beltline Avenue).

- I-196, Kent and Ottawa counties, has lane closures and a traffic shift between 44th Street and 32nd Avenue. Eastbound I-196 traffic must exit to eastbound M-6. The westbound M-6 ramp to eastbound I-196 is closed.

- M-37 (State Street) in Newaygo, Newaygo County, has lane closures in each direction over the Muskegon River with a traffic shift.

- M-66 in Lake Odessa, Ionia County, has the northbound lane closed between M-50 and I-96 with traffic detoured via M-50, Jordan Lake Road and Portland Road.

- M-89 in Allegan, Allegan County, has lane closures in each direction over the Kalamazoo River, between Jenner Drive and State Street.

- M-120 (Holton Road), Muskegon County, has the eastbound lanes closed between Giles Road and Getty Street. Detour: Giles Road to Getty Street. One lane is open on westbound M-120.

For more information, contact MDOT Grand Region Communications Representative John Richard at 616-262-1565. Follow the Grand Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_West.

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