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.

City of Midland Poseyville Preserve Project - Traffic Alert

TRAFFIC ALERT: A major milestone has been reached for the Poseyville Preserve Project: Pedestrian walkway pieces have been successfully set across the Tittabawassee River!

This project is progressing in sequence as planned; however, a few factors have extended the E. Main St. closure from the previously estimated early July to the end of September. Delays in crane arrival and an extensive walkway inspection slowed things down a bit. Additionally, the walkway’s deck requires a specialized concrete that must be poured in small sections and cured over a seven-day period. Recent high temperatures and rain days have delayed this process. Walkway installation must be 100% complete before reconstruction of E. Main St. can begin.

E. Main St., including on-street parking, will remain closed to through traffic from just east of the Poseyville Bridge to State St. Main St. traffic continues to be detoured to Townsend, Ellsworth, and State Streets. Main St. will be open and parking maintained through Cronkright St., including the Riverside Place parking lot. The sidewalk along the East End building has reopened to pedestrian traffic! Please note that construction activities can occur in close proximity to the newly-opened sidewalk. Check the comments for a closure map.

The Poseyville Preserve Project includes restoration of a former industrial site to the riparian ecosystem native to this area, a pedestrian walkway spanning the Tittabawassee River, accessible fishing spots, connections to walking and biking paths, and more. Visit cityofmidlandmi.gov/poseyville

Poseyville Preserve Project | Midland, MI - Official Website for more information on the Poseyville Riverfront Restoration project.

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.

Nighttime US-10 closures start Aug. 5 for M-30 bridge beam replacement in Sanford

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has secured new replacement beams for the M-30 bridge over US-10 in Sanford. MDOT will close US-10 nightly Aug. 5 and 6 to allow crews to safely set the new beams.

Bridge beams that were set in May showed signs of cracking. Out of an abundance of caution, crews promptly removed the beams and replacements were obtained.

Westbound US-10 will be closed from 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, to 7 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 6. Traffic will be detoured via M-30 Exit 116, northbound M-30, westbound Curtis Road and southbound M-18 back to US-10.

Eastbound US-10 will then be closed from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7. Traffic will be detoured via M-18 Exit 109, northbound M-18, eastbound Curtis Road, southbound M-30, eastbound Shaffer Road, and southbound Stark Road back to US-10.

M-30 will remain closed over US-10 as a part of a $7.3 million project to improve the structure. Southbound M-30 traffic is currently detoured via westbound US-10, southbound W. River Road and eastbound US-10 back to southbound M-30. Northbound traffic is detoured via eastbound US-10, northbound Stark Road and westbound US-10 back to northbound M-30.

100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers

Memorial Day weekend kicked off what is often referred to by traffic safety experts as "the 100 deadliest days," with a dangerous spike in teen traffic fatalities.

According to a AAA review of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on average eight people are killed per day in teen-involved driving crashes in the summer, compared to seven per day during the rest of the year. 

There are steps teens and parents can take to save lives. Parents should model safe driving behavior and talk with their teens about buckling up, obeying speed limits, and putting phones away. With teens out of school, summer is also a great time for young drivers to complete a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road. 

We want all Michigan teens to have a safe summer. Buckle up, put your phone down and obey the speed limit because someone depends on you to make it home safely! For additional resources for Teen Drivers, visit the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP): Michigan.gov/msp/divisions/ohsp/safety-programs/teen-drivers. 

Southbound I-75 lanes on Zilwaukee Bridge reopened early, northbound lanes closing Aug. 1 for maintenance

SAGINAW, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reopened all lanes of southbound I-75 on the Zilwaukee Bridge today after early completion of preventive maintenance.  

This work is a part of a two-stage, $2.9 million investment of preventive maintenance on the Zilwaukee Bridge. Work includes expansion joint repair, deck patching and resealing. Now that stage one of work on the southbound lanes is complete, stage two work on the northbound lanes is set to begin Aug. 1. Detour information for stage two will be announced prior to work starting.

Local Non-Rural Obligation Thermometer

The Local Non-Rural Obligation Thermometer tracks how much federal funding local agencies across Michigan have used or committed for transportation projects in the current fiscal year.

• As of April 30, 2025, about $308.2 million in federal funds has been made available.

• This money is used for things like new projects, updates to older ones, and converting previously approved "advance construct" projects.

• Funding is given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so early project approval is important.

• The thermometer is updated monthly (or more often) by MDOT to show how much funding remains.

• Funding amounts can change during the year due to transfers from other programs or adjustments to project costs.

The thermometer is a helpful planning tool for local agencies but does not represent the official accounting. It helps communities keep track of available funding for roads, bridges, and more.