Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail - JOIN US TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL TRAILS! September 21, 2025

Trail Mix is purely about celebrating our wonderful trail network!  Start the day enjoying the trails however you like, then gather together for a meal and trail network update.  This family friendly event is the perfect way to spend a Fall Sunday. 

9:00am - 11:30am Check-In and Trail Time at Hubs

Gather your friends and hit the trails! Bike, run, skate, stroller, or walk your furry friends!  Enjoy as many miles as you'd like in celebration of our incredible local system of trails! 

​11:00am Family Fun at Freeland SportsZone

Family activities and a non-competitive fun run for our kids! 

​11:30am - 1:00pm Lunch at the Freeland SportsZone  + Trail Update

Gather as family, community, and GLBRT supporters for a catered brunch, raffel and prizes!  We will present the current “state of the trails” highlighting projects recently finished and sections in the planning phase.

Non-Motorized Proposed Project Open House August 26

The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS), in partnership with the City of Midland and the Bay County Road Commission (BCRC), invites community members to learn more about a proposed non-motorized project in the Midland area. An open house will take place on Tuesday, August 26 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Williams Township Hall, located at 1080 W. Midland Rd. in Auburn.

Attendees will have the opportunity to review conceptual designs for the proposed E. Patrick Road Multi-Use Path and provide feedback on the project design. This project concept was developed through a multi-agency pilot project coordinated by MATS which seeks to increase utilization of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding throughout Michigan. TAP is a source of federal funding which supports the construction of non-motorized transportation infrastructure. This planning and feasibility pilot will enable the City and BCRC to pursue a grant for construction of the projects laid out below, which could cover between 50-80% of the project cost.

The E. Patrick Rd. multi-use path would extend the existing multi-use path on the south side of Patrick Rd. from its current terminus east of Illinois Dr. to the eastern city limits. This proposed path would continue east into Williams Township as part of a proposed Bay County connector trail along the south side of W. North Union Rd. before turning south through a utility easement to connect with W. Midland Rd. 

2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Mini-Grant Application Now Open

We’re thrilled to share that applications are now open for the 2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day mini-grants!

Every year on November 14, students, communities, and educators across the country come together to honor the incredible bravery of Ruby Bridges. In 1960, Ruby was just six years old when she became the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school in New Orleans.

Ruby’s walk changed history. Her courage helped ignite the civil rights movement and opened the doors to generations of students. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is a chance to help young people reflect on her bravery, talk about justice and anti-racism, and take steps, literally and figuratively, toward a better, more inclusive future for all.

To support schools and communities in this important work, we’re offering $500 or $1,000 mini-grants to help bring your celebrations to life.

MDOT - Preventing roadside deaths and serious injuries in work zones

Most work zone crashes are caused by inattentive motorists. It only takes a split second of distraction to dramatically change lives forever. Michigan's goal of Toward Zero Deaths on our roads includes our work zones. Sadly, the statistics tell us we are not at zero yet. 

In Michigan, the Office of Highway Safety Planning reports the number of fatal crashes and injuries that occur in construction, maintenance and utility work zones. In 2024, preliminary work zone crash statistics included:

• 6,097 work zone crashes.

• 15 fatal work zone crashes. 

• 16 work zone fatalities.

• 1,065 work zone injuries.

The highest number of work zone crashes occur when lanes are closed. The second and third-highest number of crashes occur when there is work on the shoulder/median and lane shifts/crossovers.

Risky driving behavior effects more than just the driver – innocent lives and families are at stake. Distracted, drugged, or drowsy driving can have real world impacts on motorists, road workers and their families.

Most work zone crashes are caused by inattentive or distracted drivers. Speeding, like driving too fast for conditions, is a leading cause of fatal work zone crashes. Most often, drivers or their passengers are killed or injured in work zone crashes.

Work zones play a significant and important role in building and maintaining our state's roads and bridges. To keep Michigan's road crews safe and free from injury and death, it is important to understand the how and why of work zones. Learn more at Work Zones 101. Additional safety resources and publications can be found using the following link: https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/travel/safety/road-users/work-zone-safety/media.

The National Work Zone Safe Teen Driver program, from the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation (ATSS) Foundation and partner WorkZoneSafe.com, provides a 100% free online safe driving course, which modernizes work zone safety education for teens ages 15-19. Teens who successfully complete the online course are recognized and rewarded for their commitment to work zone safety with a completion certificate, a chance at a $500 educational scholarship drawing, and possible insurance discounts through participating companies. Urge a teen to take the course each month this summer for more chances to win an educational scholarship! Resources for parents and educators are also available from the ATSS Foundation. Take the free course: Teen Driver Program - ATSS Foundation.

Knowledge is power and education is the key to making work zones safer for everyone. Together we can achieve zero deaths on our roads and in our work zones!

MDOT Podcast - Are we talking enough about crumbling bridges?

Beckie Curtis, director of the Bureau of Bridges and Structures at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), explains the stark reality.

• Bridges must maintain a minimum condition to keep the transportation system open.

• Bridges are expensive investments in the highway network.

• Bridges are long-lived assets, and many bridges on the trunkline system were built in a short window of time as part of the interstate and other freeway systems.

• Because of these factors, combined with historic underfunding, widespread bridge closures can be expected in the next 10-20 years unless funding is increased.

Northbound I-75, Zilwaukee Bridge closing Aug. 4 – Nov. 14 for maintenance in Saginaw County

SAGINAW, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing $2.9 million for preventive maintenance work on the Zilwaukee Bridge in Saginaw County. Northbound I-75 and the Zilwaukee Bridge will be closed from Kochville to Wadsworth roads for the first stage of this work. Other improvements include expansion joint repair, deck patching and resealing. Work on southbound I-75 was completed earlier this year.

Traffic restrictions:
Northbound I-75 will be closed and detoured to northbound I-675 from the I-75/I-675 interchange south of Wadsworth Road to the northbound I-675 junction north of Kochville Road.

The westbound M-81 ramp to northbound I-75 will be closed during this work. Traffic will be detoured via southbound I-75 to I-675 northbound near Wadsworth Road.

The southbound M-13 ramp to northbound I-75, as well as the northbound I-75 ramp to northbound M-13 will be closed. Traffic for the southbound M-13 ramp to northbound I-75 will be detoured via southbound I-75 to northbound I-675. Traffic for the I-75 ramp to northbound M-13 will be detoured via westbound M-81 to westbound M-13.

The southbound I-675 ramp to northbound I-75 also will be closed. Traffic will be detoured via southbound I-675, M-46 to northbound I-75.

2025 Midland Area Transportation Construction Projects

Planned by Local, County, and State Agencies Across the MATS Region

The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) works with many partners to plan and fund transportation improvements. In 2025, several road, bridge, and safety projects will be taking place throughout the region. These projects are led by different implementing agencies, including local governments, road commissions, and MDOT.

MDOT reminds drivers to avoid toll road scam

Fast facts:

• The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is reminding drivers to follow tips shared by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to avoid toll road scams.

• A recent scam shared with MDOT, includes an imposter government website, mimicking MDOT’s official site.

• MDOT does not operate toll roads and will not solicit payment for bridge tolls via text.

LANSING, Mich. ­– The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is reminding drivers to follow tips and guidelines issued by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, helping Michiganders to avoid falling victim to recent tolling and government imposter scams.

MDOT officials have been made aware of the newest toll road scam, including an imposter government website, which mimics MDOT’s official site, but carries a different URL address. MDOT reminds all drivers that Michigan does not have toll roads and will never solicit payment via text or include threatening verbiage to avoid late fees or harsher penalties.

Attorney General Nessel also is reminding consumers that government agencies: 

• Will not request personal information through email, over the phone or text.

• Will never demand money through email, over the phone or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.

• Do not ask for or take payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.  

This screenshot is being included in a recent round of toll road scam attempts, mimicking MDOT’s website, but featuring a different URL address.