August 27, 2007 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) today announced that I-75 in Crawford County will be the new home to electronic, changeable message signs which will be used as part of the nation's "Amber Alert" system. MDOT received a federal grant covering half of the $440,000 price tag. The signing project on I-75 near the US-127 junction has already begun and should be completed by mid-October.
"We expect the new signs will assist law enforcement officials by expanding the Amber Alert system capabilities," said MDOT North Region Engineer Brian Ness. "This is also part of a larger, ongoing effort to bring real-time information to motorists in northern Michigan."
In addition to Amber Alert messages, the changeable message signs will have many other traffic and safety applications. For example, MDOT will be able to keep motorists better informed about road construction projects, potential delays, and/or road closures during the busy tourist season.
Ness further stated, "The I-75/US-127 junction is a key location for getting essential information to motorists. As more federal grants become available, I look forward to further expansion of the system."
These are the first, permanent changeable message signs to be installed in MDOT's North Region, a 24-county area covering Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The signs are comparable to similar signs currently operated by the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
Protect Michigan families: Where Workers Present Drive 45!
- A message from MDOT and Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition
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