Michigan Road Construction to Pause for July 4th Weekend

Starting Friday afternoon, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is moving orange barrels to the side of the road and removing other lane restrictions and barriers on 100 road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made the announcement Wednesday.

“Throughout the spring and early summer, we have been moving dirt to fix the damn roads during a historic construction season, but this Fourth of July weekend, we’re moving construction barrels to ease holiday traffic,” said Governor Whitmer. “On Tuesday the hardworking men and women who build our infrastructure will be back at it, fixing our roads and bridges to save drivers time and money. Since I took office through the end of 2022, we will have invested 70% more in our roads than the previous four years to fix over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. Both my Rebuilding Michigan Plan and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan are helping us build safe, reliable infrastructure that makes a difference for families and small business across the state. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, so let’s keep getting it done this summer.”

Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, July 1, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 100 out of 162 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.

AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.7 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a 10 percent increase from last year.

“Summer is definitely in full swing and we expect a lot of folks to be traveling all over the state this Fourth of July weekend,” said State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “With more work happening now than ever thanks to Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program, that means more work zones to be aware of. Please, for your safety, your family’s safety, and for road workers’ safety, slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in all work zones. You’re depending on us to fix the roads and road workers are depending on your safe driving. Let’s make sure everyone makes it home each and every night.”

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.

Upper Peninsula

– M-28 in Munising, Alger County, has two lanes open between Commercial Street and Bay View Street with a traffic shift.

– M-64, Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Floodwood River west of Ontonagon via temporary signals.

- M-64, Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over the Halfway River west of Ontonagon via temporary signals.

- M-183, Delta County, has one lane open in alternating directions via temporary signals at a culvert crossing 2 miles south of US-2.

– US-2 in Bessemer, Gogebic County, has a posted detour in place for eastbound US-2 traffic.

– US-41 (College Avenue) in Houghton, Houghton County, has a posted detour in place for southbound US-41 traffic.

– US-41 in Marquette, Marquette County, has two through-lanes and a center left-turn lane open between Blemhuber Avenue and Furnace Street with a traffic shift.

- US-45, Ontonagon County, has one lane open in alternating directions over Roselawn Creek via temporary signals southeast of Ewen.

Northern Lower Peninsula

– I-75 in Mackinaw City, Emmet County, has the southbound ramp to US-23 (Exit 338) closed; detour on city streets.

– M-55, Iosco and Ogemaw counties, will have one lane of alternating traffic with temporary traffic signals on the bridge over the Au Gres River.

West Michigan

– I-96, Kent County, has one westbound lane open with a traffic shift between Whitneyville Avenue and 36th Street. The following ramps will be closed:

The eastbound I-96 ramp to westbound M-6,
The eastbound M-6 ramp to eastbound I-96, and
The 36th Street ramp to eastbound I-96.
– I-96, Kent County, has the eastbound ramp to southbound US-131 closed with a posted detour. The M-37 (Alpine Avenue) ramp to southbound US-131 is also closed.

– I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction at Hile Road near US-31.

– I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction over Norris Creek near Fruitport.

– I-196, Kent County, has westbound lanes shifted at the I-196 Business Loop (Chicago Drive) interchange in Grandville. The eastbound I-196 ramp to Chicago Drive is closed, and the Chicago Drive ramp to westbound I-196 is closed.

– I-196, Ottawa County, has a traffic shift with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane open between Hudsonville and Zeeland.

– M-40 (Lincoln Road), Allegan County, has one lane open over I-196 with temporary traffic signals.

– M-179 (129th Avenue), Allegan County, has the ramp to southbound US-131 closed.

– US-31, Allegan County, has the northbound lanes closed at I-196 with traffic detoured to Adams Street (Exit 52). The southbound US-31 ramp to Washington Avenue/Blue Star Highway is closed.

– US-131 Business Route (19 Mile Road) in Big Rapids is closed between 220th Avenue and Northland Drive. Detour posted.

Southwest Michigan

– I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction from I-94 to M-78.

– I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction between M-60 and Marshall Drive.

– I-94, Berrien County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift from I-196 to Britain Avenue. The southbound I-196 ramp to eastbound I-94 is closed and detoured.

– I-94, Calhoun County, has two lanes open in each direction at I-69 with a traffic shift.

– I-94, Kalamazoo County, has ramp closures at Portage Road; Portage Road has one lane open in each direction with no left turns at Kilgore Road.