M-DOT is lifting traffic restrictions for the holiday weekend – Here’s what you need to know

LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) –  This Independence Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on nearly 63 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers.

With pandemic restrictions being lifted, AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.5 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a 22 percent increase from last year.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, July 2, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, 107 out of 171 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.

“With almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions having been lifted, we expect a tremendous amount of folks to be traveling this Fourth of July holiday weekend,” State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said in a statement. “With more work than ever happening on state roads thanks to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program, we remind all drivers to slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in work zones. While you’re depending on us to fix the roads, road workers are trusting you with their lives. Let’s work together to make sure everyone returns home safely 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.

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

Here’s a list of projects in West Michigan that drivers should be aware of –

•  I-196 in Grand Rapids has a traffic shift between Ionia and Maryland avenues with one eastbound lane and two westbound lanes open. Plymouth Avenue is closed at I-196; the westbound I-196 off ramp to Fuller Avenue is closed.
•  I-196 in Grand Rapids has the eastbound bridge over the Grand River closed.
• I-196, Allegan County, will have one lane open in each direction with southbound traffic shifted over to the northbound side between Holland and Saugatuck. The southbound I-196 on and off ramps at Blue Star Highway (Exit 41) are closed.
• I-196, Allegan County, has one lane open in each direction over Pier Cove Creek, just south of M-89.
• M-37, Kent and Barry counties, will have one lane open at Duncan Creek with a temporary traffic signal. Cherry Valley Road and Stimson Road are both closed at M-37.
• M-37, Newaygo County, will have a traffic shift with one southbound lane open between the Muskegon River and Quarterline Street. Northbound M-37 is detoured between Quarterline and Water streets.
• M-57 (14 Mile Road), Kent County, will have a traffic shift with one lane open in each direction between Farland Avenue and Ramsdell Drive.
• M-104, Ottawa County, will have a traffic shift and one lane open in each direction between Kreuger Street and 148th Avenue.
• US-31 BR (Pere Marquette Highway), Mason County, is closed and detoured just south of US-10.

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.

In addition, here is a list of projects to be aware of in Southwest Michigan.

• US-131, Allegan County, will have one southbound lane open at M-179; the M-179 ramp to southbound US-131 will be closed.Southwest Michigan
• I-69, Branch County, has one lane open in each direction from US-12 to Jonesville Road.
• I-69, Calhoun and Eaton counties, has one lane open in each direction between I-94 in Marshall and M-78 in Olivet.
• I-94, Berrien County, has two lanes open in each direction from I-196 to Britain Avenue.
• M-343 in Richland, Kalamazoo County, has single-lane closures at G Avenue. G Avenue and 27th Street are closed and detoured.
• US-131 BR in Constantine, St. Joseph County, has one lane open over the St. Joseph River between Water Street and Locus Street with a temporary traffic signal.

For more information, contact MDOT Southwest Region Communications Representative Nick Schirripa at 269-208-7829.

Follow the Southwest Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Southwest.