With a three-day weekend ahead, businesses and residents around the state are packing up, stocking up and staffing up. Here’s some need-to-know information to help you enjoy the holiday:
Travel and traffic
More than a million Michiganders are expected to travel by road for the Memorial Day holiday weekend — a 2.5 percent increase over last year, AAA Michigan said in a news release.
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to halt work where possible for the weekend to accommodate the additional traffic.
MDOT will remove lane restrictions on about 70 percent of road and bridge projects, it announced Tuesday. However, some temporary lane shifts or shoulder closures may remain in place, the department warned.
For up-to-date information on construction and lane closings, check out MDOT’s interactive map.
Major work zone updates for the weekend include:
- The Calvert Avenue bridge in Wayne County will be closed over M-10.
- M-59 will have two eastbound lanes open at night from Delco Boulevard to Garfield Road in Macomb County.
- I-75 will have ramp and lane closures in Oakland County, as well as southbound lanes closed in Wayne County.
- In the Upper Peninsula, M-94 in Marquette County is closed at the Chocolay River with a posted detour.
- I-94 will have lane shifts and closures in Berrien County and Van Buren County in southwest Michigan.
State troopers will again this year be patrolling under traffic safety initiatives Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Efforts and Click It or Ticket to promote traffic safety and seatbelt use during the congested weekend, according to a Michigan State Police news release.
Gas prices
The average price for a gallon of gas in Michigan was $2.47, as of Wednesday, according to AAA Michigan. Prices have risen about 3 cents from last year’s average of $2.44.
Weather
The National Weather Service is forecasting a chance of showers all weekend, with mild highs in the mid-70s for metro Detroit. Showers are also likely on Memorial Day in the Upper Peninsula, which will see highs in the low- to mid-60s throughout the weekend.
Activities
Cities across the state are gearing up with flags and floats to commemorate Memorial Day, including Dearborn, Royal Oak, Kalamazoo and towns to the north.
For something more casual, take advantage of the state’s wide array of bicycling trails, rivers for kayaking and beach-walking routes — if the weather holds up. Options are also available for runs and holiday observances across the Upper Peninsula.
Peruse more activity ideas in Crain’s list of 10 things to do this weekend.
