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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* 

June 29, 2023 

Contact: [email protected] 

 

 *Gov. Whitmer Announces Orange Barrels Will Be Moved to Ease Fourth of July Holiday Weekend Travel* 

 

*LANSING, Mich. –* Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that starting Friday afternoon, construction will be paused on nearly 60 percent of road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.7 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a new record. 

 

“Fourth of July weekend is a time to come together with family and friends to enjoy the splendor of Pure Michigan and celebrate our independence,” said *Governor Whitmer*. “To ensure Michiganders can get to their destinations safely and on time, we’re moving construction barrels and lifting traffic restrictions. As you hit the road, remember to not text and drive and keep your eyes on the road—our new hands-free driving laws goes into effect on Friday. Next, Wednesday, the hardworking men and women who build our infrastructure will be back in action fixing the damn roads and bridges. Since I took office, we have invested 70% more in our roads than the previous administration to fix nearly 20,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges, supporting over 118,000 jobs. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and I hope you all have a safe holiday weekend. ” 

 

Beginning at 3:00PM on Friday, June 30, and continuing until 6:00AM on Wednesday, July 5, drivers will see open roads on 99 out of 175 projects statewide. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT work zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures. 

  

By the end of this construction season, the Whitmer administration will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges, supporting more than 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. These and future repairs are made possible by the Rebuilding Michigan plan [ [link removed] ], a five-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan [ [link removed] ], the largest one-time investment in Michigan's infrastructure in state history. These investments are in addition to investments made by the Biden Administration for infrastructure improvements through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which helped repair and rebuild roads and bridges throughout Michigan. These strategic investments in Michigan's infrastructure ensure that future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to run errands, travel, and strengthen the economy.   

 

"Summer traffic means a lot more folks on the road, especially during Fourth of July weekend," said *State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich*. "Drivers are certainly aware of all the road and bridge work happening across the state, including those projects made possible thanks to Governor Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program [ [link removed] ]. We ask all drivers to continue to drive safely through work zones and follow all posted signs for their safety, their family's safety, and for road workers' safety. Slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in all work zones. Work zone safety is truly a team effort. Everyone deserves to make it home each and every night." 

 

Drivers are also reminded that Governor Whitmer recently signed legislation to establish hands-free driving laws [ [link removed] ]. These new laws take effect June 30. More information is available on the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning website [ [link removed] ]. 

 

MDOT oversees I, M, and US routes and is responsible for nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, which carry more than 50 percent of all traffic and approximately 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan.   

 

Detailed information on work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Independence Day weekend can be found here [ [link removed] ]. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location. All closures are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the Mi Drive website at www.Michigan.gov/Drive [ [link removed] ].  

 

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Executive Office of the Governor · 111 S. Capitol Ave · Lansing, Michigan 48901 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]