MDOT Goes Social

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is making it easier to share information from its Web site across various social media networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Visitors on www.michigan.gov/mdot can click the “Share” button found on each page of the Web site to share MDOT information, ranging from emergency road closures to announcements of upcoming public meetings about planned road construction projects.

“We are using every available avenue to get information to the public,” said Bill Shreck, MDOT director of communications. “Whether it’s emergency information or learning about MDOT services, social media is a quick and easy way to keep people better informed, with very little cost to the state.”

Shreck noted that MDOT also is posting informational videos to its You Tube site at: www.youtube.com/michigandot.

I-94 Lanes to Reopen

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is expecting to reopen one lane of eastbound I-94 over Riverside Drive in Battle Creek on Sunda (May 24^th) and the second lane sometime next week.

             The bridge footings are being stabilized with steel and concrete columns reaching about 60 feet into the ground below the bridge. The design was approved late Sunday, May 17, and crews have been working around the clock since Monday to get the holes drilled through the concrete bridge footings and to drive the columns in place. The placement of these columns has taken longer than anticipated, and a second pile driving rig was ordered on Wednesday (May 20^th), in an effort to speed up the process.

             “We understand the importance of opening this vital freeway before the start of the Memorial Day weekend, and we are doing our best to accomplish that goal,” said MDOT Southwest Region Engineer Bobbi Welke. “Ensuring the safety of the motoring public is our highest priority. We will work continuously and effectively to reopen this bridge to traffic.”

             The westbound I-94 exit to Capital Avenue (Exit 97) has been closed while the eastbound lanes have been detoured for safety precautions, and that exit is expected to remain closed until both eastbound I-94 lanes reopen. Traffic is being directed to use the M-66/I-194 exit (Exit 98) to access Capital Avenue Southwest.

             “We’ve looked very carefully at different options for reopening this ramp,” said Mia Silver, MDOT Southwest Region delivery engineer. “Unfortunately, there is not a way to do this without introducing other issues, so the alternate routing is needed to keep it operating safely.”

             MDOT is replacing the 50-year-old I-94 bridges, part of a $10 million transportation investment that includes resurfacing 4.5 miles of eastbound and westbound I-94 between Helmer Road and 6 1/2 Mile Road, and rebuilding Riverside Drive under I-94 in Battle Creek. Work began in mid-April and is expected to be completed in November.

MDOT Announces Lane Closures on US-131

Here’s a note from the Michigan Department of Transportation for motorists traveling on US-131 in the Kalamazoo area: There will be single lane closures on US-131 near the I-94/US-131 interchange until 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st.  These closures are necessary for bridge demolition.

MDOT Adds New Features To www.michigan.gov/drive Website

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the state’s Department of Information Technology (DIT) and Center for Geographic Information (CGI) have added a new feature to the MI Drive Web site. Read more