7/1/22 - Michigan State Police Begin Operation Care Program

Extra highway and road patrols will work to make traveling safer over the holiday weekend.

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 10 percent increase from last year.

The Michigan State Police Operation Care Program begins Friday morning, July 1, and will last until July 5.

The Operation Care program means extra highway and road patrols will be more visible in hopes that the public will drive safer and reduce the risk of crashes.

Officers will encourage people to focus on seatbelt use, not driving while impaired and controlling their speed. Troopers also remind drivers to use  caution in construction zones.    Major projects and construction work will pause mid-day on Friday but there will still be detours and lane restrictions in some areas. 

State Police say they have seen a recent increase in speeding violations and more accidents. 

Beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, July 1, and continuing until 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 100 out of 162 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. 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.

West Michigan

- I-96, Kent County, has one westbound lane open with a traffic shift between Whitneyville Avenue and 36th Street. The following ramps will be closed:

• The eastbound I-96 ramp to westbound M-6,

• The eastbound M-6 ramp to eastbound I-96, and

• The 36th Street ramp to eastbound I-96.

- I-96, Kent County, has the eastbound ramp to southbound US-131 closed with a posted detour. The M-37 (Alpine Avenue) ramp to southbound US-131 is also closed.

- I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction at Hile Road near US-31.

- I-96, Muskegon County, has one lane open in each direction over Norris Creek near Fruitport.

- I-196, Kent County, has westbound lanes shifted at the I-196 Business Loop (Chicago Drive) interchange in Grandville. The eastbound I-196 ramp to Chicago Drive is closed, and the Chicago Drive ramp to westbound I-196 is closed.

- I-196, Ottawa County, has a traffic shift with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane open between Hudsonville and Zeeland.

- M-40 (Lincoln Road), Allegan County, has one lane open over I-196 with temporary traffic signals.

- M-179 (129th Avenue), Allegan County, has the ramp to southbound US-131 closed.

- US-31, Allegan County, has the northbound lanes closed at I-196 with traffic detoured to Adams Street (Exit 52). The southbound US-31 ramp to Washington Avenue/Blue Star Highway is closed.

- US-131 Business Route (19 Mile Road) in Big Rapids is closed between 220th Avenue and Northland Drive. Detour posted.

For more information, contact MDOT Grand Region Communications Representative John Richard at 616-262-1565. Follow the Grand Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_West.

Southwest Michigan

- I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction from I-94 to M-78.

- I-69, Calhoun County, has one lane open in each direction between M-60 and Marshall Drive.

- I-94, Berrien County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift from I-196 to Britain Avenue. The southbound I-196 ramp to eastbound I-94 is closed and detoured.

- I-94, Calhoun County, has two lanes open in each direction at I-69 with a traffic shift.

- I-94, Kalamazoo County, has ramp closures at Portage Road; Portage Road has one lane open in each direction with no left turns at Kilgore Road.

- M-140, Berrien County, is closed at the Paw Paw Lake outlet in Watervliet with a posted detour.

For more information, contact MDOT.