MDOT lifts traffic restrictions to ease holiday weekend travel

For this Independence Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation is removing lane restrictions on 60 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. (Photo courtesy of Metro Creative)

LANSING — This Independence Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation is removing lane restrictions on 60 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers.

AAA estimates more than 2.6 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the extended Fourth of July holiday weekend, a record for the second consecutive year.

Beginning at 3 p.m. today and continuing until 6 a.m. Monday, 105 of 174 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT work zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures.

“Drivers across the state know full well how much record-setting road and bridge work is happening in Michigan right now thanks to increased federal infrastructure investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program,” said state Transportation Director Brad Wieferich in a news release. “We’ve pulled back the barrels as much as we can for the holiday weekend, but we couldn’t do it for every project. We thank drivers for continuing to show patience behind the wheel and following all posted speed limits in work zones. Let’s keep it up so everyone, including drivers, their passengers and road workers, all make it home each and every night.”

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.

The following is a list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Independence Day weekend in the Upper Peninsula. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location. All closures are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the MI Drive website at www.Michigan.gov/Drive. 

≤ I-75, Chippewa County, will have one northbound lane open over the Pine River.

≤ M-28 near Trout Creek, Ontonagon County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over Rolston Creek via temporary signals.

≤ M-48 south of Rudyard, Chippewa County, is closed between Centerline Road and Hantz Road with a posted detour.

≤ M-64, Ontonagon County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over Sleepy Creek north of Bergland with temporary signals.

≤ M-64, Ontonagon County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over the Mineral River near White Pine via temporary signals.

≤ M-95 (Carpenter Avenue) in Kingsford, Dickinson County, will have one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift.

≤ M-134, Mackinac County, will have one lane open in alternating directions over the Pine River via temporary signals.

≤ US-41/M-28 in Ishpeming, Marquette County, will have one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift at Lakeshore Drive. Posted detours for side streets.