City of Midland is partnering with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the reconstruction of the US-10 Business Route

The City of Midland is partnering with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the reconstruction of the US-10 Business Route commonly known as the Indian and Buttles Corridor Improvement Project. This project presents a transformative opportunity to enhance one of our community’s most prominent gateways.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Word on the Streets podcast for an in-depth conversation with MDOT Project & Contracts Engineer John Kelley and Construction Engineer Shaun Bates about what’s coming and how it will impact travel in Midland. Here’s a quick look at what to expect over the next few years:

2025: Buttles Street Utility Burial

• In August 2025, MDOT began burying overhead utilities along the south side of Buttles Street from Jerome to State Street.

• This work will prepare the corridor for future street improvements planned in 2027.

• Sidewalk access: South side sidewalks will be temporarily removed during this phase, but the north side sidewalks will remain open.

• The south side 10-foot pathway will be built in 2027.

2026: Indian & Jerome Street Improvements

During this phase, Indian Street traffic will temporarily shift to Buttles/Lyons, which will operate as a two-way street with a center left-turn lane between Jerome and Washington.

• Indian Street (Jerome → Mill): Mill and resurface while keeping the current three-lane format. Add new street lighting, mast-arm traffic signals, and street trees.

• Indian/Patrick (Mill → Washington): Full reconstruction with new utility upgrades (water main and storm sewer), existing lighting relocated to inside of the curve, new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/more street trees.

• Jerome Street (Main → Indian): Street reconstruction, mast arm traffic signals, new street lighting, and crosswalk upgrades.

2027: Buttles Street Improvements

Once Indian is complete, traffic will shift to Indian/Patrick, which will operate as a two-way street with a center turn lane from Jerome to Washington.

• Buttles (Jerome → State): Mill and resurface, modified from current three lanes to two lanes with right-turn lanes at Ashman and Cronkright. Addition of a 10-foot-wide pathway along the south side, new lighting, new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/additional street trees.

• Buttles/Lyons (State → Washington): Maintain three-lane format but undergo a full reconstruction with new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/additional street trees. Utility upgrades will include new water main and storm sewer installations.

Receive the latest information on these projects by:

• Sign up for MDOT Bay Region News Release Emails for ongoing project updates here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/midot/subscriber/new.

• Watch for a spring 2026 MDOT open house before major construction begins.

• For timeline, background and history on the project, visit cityofmidlandmi.gov/corridors.

City of Midland Construction Updates!

Want to stay in the loop on what’s happening on city streets each day? The City of Midland’s Construction Daily Updates offer a quick, easy way to see what crews are working on, what’s wrapping up, and what’s next on the schedule. From street repairs and utility work to major improvement projects, you’ll get a fresh snapshot of progress, updated daily.

These updates make it simple to follow along as Midland keeps building, fixing, and improving. Check in often to see how today’s work is shaping tomorrow’s smoother travels!

Midland County Road Commission’s Construction Dashboard!

Curious about how this year’s road projects are shaping up? The Midland County Road Commission’s Construction Dashboard is your go-to spot for tracking progress across the county. From fresh pavement to completed safety upgrades, you can explore what’s finished, what’s underway, and what’s coming up next—all in one easy, interactive place.

Whether you’re keeping an eye on your commute or just love seeing improvements take shape, this dashboard makes it simple (and even fun!) to follow along. Take a look and see how the construction season is moving Midland County forward!

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.”

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. 

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!

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.