MDOT - Eastbound US-10 lane closures Sept. 18 - 29 for maintenance in Midland County

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will implement lane closures on eastbound US-10 from M-18 to W. River Road in Midland County for maintenance. Work will include concrete patching repairs.

"Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, let's build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs."

County:
Midland

Highway:
US-10

Closest community:
Sanford

Start date:
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

Estimated end date:
Monday, Sept. 29, 2025

Traffic restrictions:
Traffic will be maintained with single-lane closures and traffic shifts.

Safety benefit:
This work will provide drivers with a smoother, safer driving surface. 

MDOT - Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones

On the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the Michigan State Police (MSP) deploying added enforcement in freeway work zones.

MC Lt. Jason Zylstra of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) explains why they launched special enforcement in segments with major work like the heavily traveled I-96 in Ionia County.

MSP observes that 97 percent of at-fault crashes involving large trucks and buses are caused by driver behavior.

Zylstra also discusses:

• The need for trucks to maintain a proper distance to other vehicles.

• The dangers of trucks blocking lanes in zipper-merge zones and why law enforcement issues citations for that behavior.

• Special inspections for tires, equipment and other components of commercial vehicles.

2024 Michigan traffic crashes and fatalities

September 9, 2025 – The goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on Michigan roads through the implementation of the Safe System Approach. Since last week, 28 people died on Michigan roadways making a total of 688 this year. In addition, 128 more were seriously injured for a statewide total of 3,674 to date.

Compared to last year at this time, there are 11 more fatalities and 55 fewer serious injuries.

Numbers are provided by the Michigan State Police.

The number of overall traffic crashes and fatalities on Michigan roadways rose slightly in 2024, according to recently released data from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC). In 2024, the total number of crashes (288,880) was 927 higher than in 2023. Also last year, while the number of fatalities (1,099) on Michigan roads increased by 4, the number of serious injuries (5,781) decreased by 35 when compared to 2023 (1,095 and 5,816, respectively).

Unfortunately, in 2024, bicyclists experienced profound increases in crashes and/or fatalities from 2023’s statistics. Bicyclist involved crashes (1,773) rose 20%, and bicyclist fatalities (29) rose 21%. While pedestrian involved crashes (2,131) rose 1%, pedestrian fatalities decreased by 15%. Other changes include:

• Work zone involved fatalities (28) rose 17%.

• Motorcycle involved crashes (3,187) increased 4%, and motorcyclist fatalities (168) increased 2%.

• School bus involved crashes (1,044) increased 6%.

Comparing 2024’s statistics to 2023’s numbers, other key findings include:

• Teen (aged 13-19) fatalities (77) rose 17%, while young drivers (aged 20 and younger) crashes decreased by 1%.

• Older driver involved (aged 65 and over) crashes (57,318) increased 4%.

• Drug involved crashes (2,315) rose 3%, and drug-involved fatalities (272) rose 6%.

• Alcohol involved fatalities (307) increased 3%, but alcohol-involved crashes (8,542) fell 3%.

• Distracted driving involved fatalities (65) rose 10%, while distracted driving-involved crashes (14,439) decreased 5%.

To review the crash data report and other related documents, visit the 2024 crash data page.

2021-2024 PASER & Bridge Conditions – State of Michigan and MATS Area Comparison

The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) has released a new analysis comparing road and bridge conditions across Michigan and within the MATS area between 2021 and 2024. Using data from the Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) Dashboard, the report highlights important trends in pavement and bridge health that guide local and statewide investment decisions.

Roads:
The Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) system shows that, statewide, road conditions have been relatively stable, but with a gradual increase in roads rated “Good.” In the MATS area, improvements are more pronounced, particularly on county roads, where the share of “Good” roads now outpaces the statewide average. City and village roads remain the most challenged, but recent data suggests a positive turnaround with fewer “Poor” ratings than in past years.

Bridges:
Bridge conditions present a more mixed picture. Across Michigan, most bridges remain in “Fair” condition, but the share of bridges in “Severe” condition has increased since 2021. Locally, trunkline bridges in Midland, Bay, and Saginaw counties follow statewide trends, while county-owned bridges show greater signs of deterioration. Municipal bridges, such as those in Midland and Sanford, remain stable with nearly all rated “Fair.”

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.

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.