Trending
Motorists in Superiorland and elsewhere in the state of Michigan should be aware that the third and final edition of the 2026 Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program will take place starting Saturday and running through Sept. 27.
That means, of course, that numerous people wearing high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations will be combing roadway rights-of-way, picking up everything from discarded plastic bottles and jars to abandoned tires and other assorted trash. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags and arranges to haul away the trash.
The popular Adopt-A-Highway program began in Michigan back in 1990. As of last year, MDOT tells us that about 2,600 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway through the program. An estimated 19,000 participants collected almost 40,000 bags of trash from roadsides during the three annual pickup periods in 2025.
Who’s doing the work? Turns out these worker groups are comprised of members of churches, scouting groups, service and 4-H clubs, military veterans, schools, lodges and more. Everyone pitches in to help
Getting involved in Adopt-A-Highway is neither difficult nor complicated. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.
We applaud the Adopt-A-Highway program Michigan has produced, which saves taxpayers millions of dollars each year and help beautify our most well-traveled highways.
For more information, see michigan.gov/adoptahighway.