MDOT Shutting Down Most Construction Zones For Weekend

If you are traveling across Michigan for the Memorial weekend, MDOT has thrown drivers a bone by shutting down a majority of constructions projects.

I am one of those Michiganders who will be traveling across the state this weekend to see some family and I am relieved to learn about some of the road construction projects that will be on my paths this weekend will be shutdown so the traffic can flow.

I drive on U.S. 131 to and from work and have already noticed a significant amount of up north travel this week. I cross the Hardy Dam everyday and even the house boats have returned already.

According to WOOD, the Michigan Department of Transportation will suspend most road projects to allow for extra amount of people who will be on the road this weekend. Some of the larger projects will have to stay in place and will cause some roads to have some slow moving traffic but otherwise it should be pretty decent.

It may help if you pick out of the ordinary hours to make your drive. I know not everyone can do that but it helps for sure when you can.

Here is a list of projects in West Michigan that unfortunately will not be the ones shut down by MDOT this weekend:

• Closure of Southbound I-196
• Exit to Blue Star Highway from Southbound I-196/US-31
• Entrance to Blue Star Highway to Southbound I-196/US-31
• I-196 in downtown Grand Rapids.
• Eastbound I-196 closed at US-131
• Westbound I-196 between Fuller and Maryland

If your travel plans consist of heading up north to spend your holiday, here is a list of areas that may cause you some problems with some delays:

• US-131 in Boyne Falls closed from Cherry Hill Road to Skop Road.
• US-31 in Charlevoix County has a detour
• US-23 in Cheboygan Southbound traffic has a detour
• M-37 in Grand Travers County has only one lane open in either direction south of Traverse City
• M-115 in Wexford County is closed between M-37 and 9 Mile Road west of Mesick

As far as the rest of the road construction projects that MDOT is planning to shutdown for the weekend, those shutdowns begin Friday at 3 p.m. and will last through Tuesday at 6 a.m.