More Road Construction With Major Projects Underway In Michigan

This week in Michigan, over 130 road and bridge projects are scheduled for construction, which will cause lane closures throughout the state. From Monday to Friday, June 12-16, various areas will experience traffic disruptions due to projects like M-50 in Jackson, I-94 in Kalamazoo, I-375 in Detroit, and U.S. 31 in Manistee County.

To stay informed and plan your travel accordingly, check out the complete list of road construction projects in Michigan. You can find the full list here.

Take a look at some of the projects happening throughout Michigan this week below.

Ongoing road construction near Ford Field in downtown Detroit will contribute to some congestion.

Beginning today, a single-lane closure will be in effect on both sides of I-375, spanning between Madison and M-3. This closure is anticipated to persist until the end of the month.

Also starting today, the ramps to I-375 from I-75 and Madison will be closed. Additionally, intermittent lane closures on Gratiot Avenue, stretching from downtown towards the east until I-94, can be expected.

Construction will begin today on M-50 in Jackson County and continue until August 18. The specific section to be resurfaced spans from Valley Farm Road to Lincoln Road in Jackson.

Throughout the duration of the project, traffic regulators will be employed to ensure the maintenance of one lane. Authorities have stated that the project will not only result in smoother road surfaces but also contribute to safer and improved shoulders.

Overnight tonight, workers have scheduled a closure of the left two lanes on I-75, spanning from I-475 to U.S. 23. This project is anticipated to be brief, as the lanes are expected to reopen by 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

On Monday, construction activities will start on M-227, also known as 17 Mile Road, in Calhoun County. The focus will be on repaving a 2.7-mile stretch of road spanning from Woolley Drive to F Drive South in Fredonia Township.

This project, estimated to cost approximately $631,000, is slated to wrap up on August 31. Throughout this period, drivers should anticipate lane closures and the presence of traffic regulators in the affected area.

Starting today, a section of I-94 BL will be fully closed in both directions from M-96 to Olmstead Road, and this closure is expected to last for approximately two weeks.

To navigate the closure, drivers will be redirected via River Street and M-96 (Kings Highway).

Near this area, I-94 will also maintain the closure of its left lane from Westnedge Avenue to Portage Road and Sprinkle Road to Lovers Lane. Construction work on I-94 in this region will persist until late July.

On Thursday, June 15, the U.S. 31 bascule bridge over the Manistee River will undergo construction work.

This $12.6-million project encompasses a range of repairs and upgrades to the bridge. These include replacing sections of the bridge deck, enhancements to the mechanical and electrical systems, improvements to the bridge approaches, and repairs and painting of the structural steel.

Lane closures and traffic shifts are expected to start on Thursday, with additional traffic restrictions scheduled to be implemented starting in July.

Today, a northbound lane on I-75 in Mackinac County will be closed as part of the efforts to repair damage on the Charles Moran Road bridge.

The damage to the bridge resulted from a high load hit, and the repair costs are estimated at approximately $61,000. The closure is expected to remain in effect until Friday, June 30. A lane width restriction of 11 feet will be imposed during this period.

Simultaneously, starting on Monday, the resurfacing of a seven-mile stretch of M-123 in Luce County will begin. The project, with a cost of around $1.3 million, will span from north of Murphy Creek to County Road 500.

To accommodate the construction work, one lane of alternating traffic will be utilized throughout the project, which is projected to be completed around August 18. Similarly, a lane width restriction of 11 feet will be enforced during this project.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.