Construction equipment is seen along U.S. 41 in Marquette during a previous summer. (Journal file photo)

By BUD SARGENT    

Journal Managing Editor

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Transportation has planned a busy construction season in the Upper Peninsula.

According to a top MDOT spokesman, motorists will encounter dozens of road and bridge projects this construction season from one end of the U.P. to the other.

“Around the U.P., we’ll see a lot of orange barrels this year,” said Dan Weingarten, MDOT Superior Region communications representative

Weingarten said MDOT is responsible for the state trunkline roads (U.S.- M- and I-routes) around the state. MDOT has 37 projects scheduled this year around the region ranging from road rebuilding and resurfacing, to bridge work, carpool lots, traffic signals, to railroad crossing work, he said.

Approximately $85 million total, slightly more than last year’s budget, will be invested by MDOT in the U.P. to rebuild and maintain our transportation infrastructure through construction projects this year, he said.

≤ 25 road projects – $54.5 million

≤ 9 Bridge projects – $23 million

≤ Other miscellaneous projects include signal work, a railroad crossing and carpool lot (installing a new carpool lot on U.S. 41 near Lake Street along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail in Marquette).

≤ Regionwide pavement crack sealing – $1.7 million.

≤ Region pavement markings (line painting, etc.) – $5.6 million

Here is background information on some of the higher profile projects planned this year:

Eastern U.P.

≤ One ongoing project carried over from last year has already started: the rebuilding of the I-75 overpasses over Cheeseman Road north of St. Ignace. We began preliminary work on that project last fall. It’s a $9 million project to rebuild overpasses, including deck replacement, bearing replacement, substructure repairs, beam end repairs, steel cleaning and coating, and approach work on I-75 at Cheeseman Road in the city of St. Ignace in Mackinac County. This project is scheduled to be completed in two years, with work on northbound I-75 to be completed in 2025 and southbound I-75 in the 2026 season. No work will occur during winter shutdown periods.

≤ MDOT is investing $5 million to repair the second of two M-48 overpasses over I-75 in Chippewa County. Work includes deck overlays; deck, substructure and structural patching; railing replacement; expansion joint replacement; partial painting; beam end cutting; and approach work. This project includes two separate structures repaired in two stages. Stage one was the M-48 overpass over I-75 connecting M-129 to Mackinac Trail, which was completed in 2024. Stage two is the M-48 overpass over I-75 near Rudyard. Work on the second structure began in April and will require closing the bridge with detours similar to stage 1.

≤ Also, on I-75 in Mackinac County, MDOT will invest about $3 million to resurface and repair concrete joints on about 7 miles of I-75 from M-123 to M-134.

≤ M-123 From the Luce County line to Paradise in Chippewa County will see a $2.8 million asphalt overlay – about 12 miles of highway.

≤ M-77 from U.S. 2 to Germfask will be milled and resurfaced. This is a $3.4 million project to resurface about 9 miles of roadway.

≤ We’re investing $2.5 million to resurface more than 9 miles of US-2 from west of M-183 to west of Carlson Road in Cooks and Garden townships, Delta and Schoolcraft counties. The project will include asphalt cold milling and resurfacing, aggregate shoulders and pavement markings. Project starts May 5 and is expected to wrap up in mid-July.

Central U.P.

≤ Signing and preliminary work started April 1 on a $5.2 million project to resurface nearly 6 miles of U.S. 41 from south of the M-94 east junction to north of Kunde Road in Marquette County. Work includes asphalt crushing, shaping and resurfacing; grading; drainage; guardrail; and pavement markings. Major work is expected to begin Thursday, May 15, with a project end date of Sept. 15. One lane of alternating traffic will be open on U.S.41 using traffic regulators.

≤ Two bridges on U.S. 41 south of this area in Alger County– over the West Branch of the Whitefish River and Huber creek — will be rebuilt. The project started April 16, will continue through September. This is a $1.7 million project which will require detours.

≤ Also in Marquette County, M-35 from the Marquette/Alger county line to Little Lake will get an approximately $3 million investment for an asphalt overlay of 10 miles of highway and a railroad crossing replacement. Tentatively set for June-late July.

≤ Lots of work on M-35 in Menominee Couty this summer: A $4.6 million project to resurface 12 miles from Dunkas Road to the Delta County line, along with widening the existing paved shoulders from 3 to 8 feet. A separate project will widen the shoulders on M-35 from Jimtown Road to J.W. Wells State Park. Both tentatively set for June through early October.

≤ In Delta County, we’re planning to mill and resurface about 1.8 miles of M-35 from Lakeshore Drive to U.S. 2 in Escanaba, a $1 million project, May through July. We’ll also mill and resurface 2.4 miles of U.S. 2 from East of Danforth Road to 18.3 Road later in the summer. That’s about a $1.7 million project. Motorists should expect lane closures with traffic regulators on these jobs.

Western U.P.

≤ In Ontonagon County, MDOT plans a $6.4 project to mill and resurface about 5.5 miles of M-26 from U.S. 45 to M-38, scheduled for May through July. Also in Ontonagon County, a large project to chip seal M-64 from Silver City to Ontonagon and M-38 from Ontonagon to Greenland. $2.3 million. About 24 miles total.

Finalized start dates for some projects haven’t been made yet, Weingarten said. Spring weight restrictions are still in effect for the entire Upper Peninsula, which can delay the movement of large machinery. Those restrictions may be lifted in the next couple of weeks, but that depends on the weather.

For up-to-date information as construction season approaches, check www.Michigan.gov/drive, MDOT’s interactive MiDrive map. Motorists can see which projects are active, where lanes are closed or detours are in place.