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Over 90 Road Projects Pause for Labor Day Weekend Travel

Author Kayla Morgan

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will temporarily suspend work on more than half of its road construction projects to alleviate potential traffic issues during the Labor Day weekend. This move is aimed at reducing congestion and enhancing safety.

Starting from 3 p.m. on Friday, September 1, until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5, lane restrictions will be lifted in 93 out of the 166 projects across the state. While construction activity will be halted in many areas, equipment and temporary traffic configurations like lane shifts or shoulder closures may still be in place.

It’s important to note that for safety reasons, the Mackinac Bridge will be closed to public traffic on Labor Day from 6:30 a.m. to noon due to the Annual Bridge Walk. Southbound I-75 and US-2 traffic will be halted at Exit 344 on the north side of the bridge, while northbound I-75 traffic will be stopped at Exit 337 on the south end.

MDOT oversees I, M, and US routes and manages nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, which handle over 50 percent of all traffic and around 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan. If needed, detour routes will be provided at the project sites.

Macomb County

•I-94 has the westbound ramp from westbound 23 Mile Road closed.
•I-696 westbound service drive has one lane open at Bunert Road.
•M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) has two southbound lanes open between 9 Mile and 8 Mile roads.
•M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) has two lanes open in each direction between 14 Mile and Wellington Crest roads.
•M-19 has the ramp to westbound I-94 closed.

Oakland County

•I-75 has two lanes open in each direction between M-15 and the Oakland/Genesee county line.
•I-96 has two lanes open between Kent Lake Road and I-275, with ramp closures.
•I-696 has two lanes open between I-275 and Lahser Road, with ramp closures.
•M-1 (Woodward Avenue) will have two lanes open between M-102 (8 Mile Road) and I-696.
•M-1 (Woodward Avenue) has the northbound right lane closed from Sylvan Avenue to Main Street.

Wayne County

•Buchanan Street is closed over I-96.
•Cass Avenue is closed over I-94, including ramp closures.
•Grand Boulevard (MacArthur Bridge) bridge to Belle Isle has the right lane closed.
•Grand River Avenue is closed over I-94, including ramp closures.
•Larned Street is closed over I-375.
•Schaefer Highway is closed over I-96.
•I-94 has two westbound lanes open from Belleville Road to Rawsonville Road.
•I-275 has two lanes open from Eureka Road to 6 Mile Road.
•M-5 (Grand River Avenue) has three eastbound lanes open between M-102 (8 Mile Road) and Berg Road.
•M-85 (Fort Street) will have up to two lanes open at Outer Drive.
•M-102 (8 Mile Road) has two lanes open between M-1 (Woodward Avenue) and M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue).
•US-12 (Michigan Avenue) has two lanes open between Oakwood Boulevard and Greenfield Road.
•US-24 (Telegraph Road) has two lanes open in each direction between 6 Mile and 9 Mile roads.

A complete list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Labor Day weekend can be found here.

Revamped: Michigan's New Distracted Driving Law Starts June 30

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, alongside state officials and advocates against distracted driving, took a significant step on June 7 by signing House Bills 4250, 4251, and 4252. These measures are designed to combat distracted driving, prioritize safety, and save lives. The new laws emphasize the importance of drivers keeping their complete focus on the road by encouraging the use of hands-free technology.

RELATED: 'Michigan Distracted Driving Law Expanding: What To Know

When will these laws go into effect?

Mark your calendars for June 30, 2023, because that’s when the new rules from HBs 4250, 4251, and 4252 will kick in. They don’t stop at just texting while driving. They also crack down on using social media, streaming videos, and even taking calls on handheld devices. If you’re caught breaking these rules in a regular car, you could be slapped with fines of up to $250. But if you’re driving a big rig or a school bus, be ready to face fines of up to $500. And if your distracted driving causes an accident, brace yourself because those fines will be doubled.

The previous distracted driving law in Michigan only covered texting while driving. This left other cellphone activities like mobile apps, social media, and video streaming unaddressed.

Distracted Driving Statistics.

According to AAA, taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. Reading an email or text for five seconds is equivalent to driving blindly across a football field. Cognitive distractions can last longer than you think, with mental distractions lingering for up to 27 seconds after tasks like texting or changing the radio station. Additionally, new teen drivers are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash.

The AAA provides essential tips to avoid distracted driving, such as putting your mobile device out of sight to resist temptation, programming your destination before driving if using a navigation system, and safely pulling over before making calls or texting. They also said to ask passengers for assistance with navigation or messages, speak up if the driver is distracted, and avoid calling or texting others who are driving. Another helpful tip is activating the Do Not Disturb feature on your iPhone or Android to block calls while driving. They did note that everyone, including pedestrians and bicyclists, should stay focused in traffic and avoid using phones or playing games while walking or cycling.

What are the specific details of each House Bill?

  • House Bill 4250

    House Bill 4250 is here to modernize Michigan’s distracted driving laws. The law only covers texting while driving, but this bill takes it up a notch. It includes watching or recording videos, scrolling through social media, and more. But don’t worry, if you need to use your phone, the new law allows you to use voice-operated or hands-free technology. There’s also an interesting twist: if you’re repeatedly caught with three or more civil infractions in three years, the court can make you take a basic driver improvement course. The fines for these infractions are getting an update too.

    Distracted young male driver using his mobile phone while running over a pedestrian. Technology and transportation concept

    LanaStock/ Getty Images

  • House Bill 4251

    House Bill 4251 is all about ensuring reckless drivers face the consequences for putting everyone’s safety at risk. It covers commercial vehicles, driving record points, and driver improvement courses, holding those responsible accountable.

    Blue and red light siren flasher on top of police car. Flashing lights of police car, stopping the offender, traffic rules violation

    ANGHI/ Getty Images

     

  • House Bill 4252

    House Bill 4252 is all about keeping tabs on the new law’s effectiveness. It requires the Michigan State Police (MSP) to submit a progress report after 3.5 years to see how things are going. By the way, Ohio jumped on the hands-free law train too. According to the Governor’s Office, In just one month, they saw a nine percent drop in distracted driving. That means over 500 crashes were prevented.

    Close up woman working with calculator for document in office.

    Natee Meepian/ Getty Images

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Author Kayla Morgan
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