July 8, 2008 -- Thousands of Good Samaritan volunteers will take to Michigan's roads and highways during the second of three annually designated Adopt-A-Highway pickups, scheduled from July 12-20.
"We want Michigan to look its best during our all-important summer tourist season," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "The 27,000 volunteers who are willing to step up to the plate to help us clean the state's highways deserve a big thank-you from the people of Michigan."
Steudle said that last year, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) spent $5.5 million to remove litter from roadsides. Adopt-A-Highway volunteers saved the department an estimated $1 million in litter pickup costs by collecting trash on 5,800 miles of roadway. More than 64,000 bags of trash were removed during three pickups in 2007.
"Motorists should use caution when they observe clean-up crews working on the roadsides," reminded Steudle. "Please slow down and watch out for our volunteers. Their safety is our number one concern and it needs to be yours, too."
This year, volunteers will be switching to a more visible, bright yellow-green safety vest with reflective stripes. The new vest, part of a nationwide safety initiative, will be required by the Federal Highway Administration to be worn by anyone working in the highway right-of-way. This rule goes into effect in November 2008.
MDOT supplies each volunteer group with safety vests, a safety video, and trash bags.
Many areas of the state highway system are still available for adoption. Groups of three or more people interested in adopting a section of highway are encouraged to contact MDOT, or visit www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway for more details. To adopt a section of highway, or discuss possibilities, interested groups are advised to contact their local MDOT coordinator (names and phone numbers are listed on the Web site).
The final 2008 pickup is scheduled for Sept. 13-21.
Protect Michigan families: Where Workers Present Drive 45! - A message from MDOT and Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition
|
Printer Friendly
Text Version 
Email Page
