Our goal is to keep Michigan's motorists safe, informed, and mobile. That is why MDOT offers many ways to help ease the stress of commuting by providing information that commuters want and need as they make daily travel decisions.
Did you know that millions of people visit the Great Lakes State every year? Whether you are from out of state or right here in Michigan, we want to ensure your travel throughout Michigan is informative, comfortable, and fun.
At MDOT, safety is paramount. It is our goal to improve overall safety for all road users, internal staff, contractors performing work on roads, and emergency responders.
Every year, MDOT produces an updated version of the state transportation map. The department also produces numerous geographic information system maps to assist commuters, tourists, and businesses.
In Michigan, there are three publicly-owned and operated bridges: Mackinac Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, and International Bridge. There are also two privately-owned and operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
A vibrant and sustainable multimodal transportation system is vital to Michigan's future economic viability and competitiveness. From aviation to public transportation, rail, freight, and marine, MDOT is involved in all modes of transportation.
MDOT's Office of Business Development (OBD) manages external civil rights programs, such as the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the On-the-Job Training Program, and the Small Business Program, and ensures compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, equal opportunity requirements for contractors, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
MDOT is committed to ensuring that projects, programs and services are performed without discrimination, under Title VI.
Contractors and vendors who work on federally assisted projects are required to establish and carry out policies to assure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, national origin, age, or disability.
Resources for minorities, women, and other socially/economically disadvantaged persons.
The Bureau of Bridges and Structures is responsible for statewide policy, procedure development, and execution to ensure all bridges and structures are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to ensure safety.
MDOT provides funding for competitive grant and loan programs primarily, but not exclusively, for state and local road agencies for the greatest impact on economic development and job creation.
MDOT's Highway Programs focus on the development and management of the department's roadsides, environmental efforts and policies, and federal-aid highway information.
The Bureau of Transportation Planning develops and implements a comprehensive transportation planning process which results in investments that are consistent with the policies of the State Transportation Commission.
Research Administration supports and promotes innovative research that encourages safe, sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions throughout Michigan.
MDOT provides technologies and partnerships in order to make the transportation system safer and less congested.
MDOT has ongoing government-to-government communication with 12 federally recognized sovereign tribal governments whose lands are situated within Michigan.
The Office of Communications works with the media to inform the public of MDOT's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. The office is responsible for media relations, social media, and website development.
Public participation is integral to efficient, effective and responsive transportation decisions. At MDOT, we want to ensure your voice is not only heard, but makes a difference in moving Michigan forward.
Transportation Reality Check takes on transportation myths and misconceptions, and explains why MDOT does things the way they do.
Resources for the development of quality transportation project documents and services.
Resources for specialized engineering and technical support for construction staff.
Resources for prequalification, bid letting, contract awards, and payments.
Resources for consultant advisories, prequalification information, contracts, and proposals.
Resources for grant and economic development opportunities and project coordination.
Resources for local governmental agencies that regularly require access to state right of way.
Resources for MDOT real estate standards, policies and procedures, and training.
Resources for general work zone mobility guidelines for engineering and technical staff.
Resources for rules, guidelines, restrictions, and permits to safely transport goods.
MDOT's goal is to support the implementation and use of GIS software and hardware through innovative solutions that solve spatial problems and support more informed decisions about Michigan's transportation infrastructure.
The technical training (TT) course schedule lists the various technical training courses offered through the Office of Organizational Development during the construction off-season months for the local agencies and consultants.
The Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students interested in civil engineering and construction management careers, valuable experience by working with professional field staff.
TRAC engages high school and middle school students in solving real-world problems, such as designing bridges or analyzing the environmental effects of building a highway.
The MDOT Transportation Career Pathways Program is committed to helping you build a fulfilling and rewarding career in the transportation industry, even if you're not entirely sure where to start.
MDOT's Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a rotational program that provides new engineers experience in multiple work areas while being assigned a senior-level mentor.
The HBCU TDRP is a unique partnership between MDOT and Michigan colleges and universities to offer on-the-job training to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in engineering or transportation-related careers.
The Veteran Internship Program assists honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces as they transition into the civilian workforce.
Engineering Week videos and lesson plans are all-inclusive resources to show early elementary to high school students the career of civil engineering at MDOT.
At MDOT, we are here to help. If you can't find what you are looking for in our popular topics, frequently asked questions or website search, give us a call at 517-241-2400 or fill out our contact form.
MDOT's seven region offices each handle transportation-related construction, maintenance and programs within the region's geographic boundaries.
Governmental Affairs represents MDOT's interests as new or amendatory legislation is developed or moving through the legislative process.
Commissions and councils provide a public forum for policy development and implementation.
Policies help the department implement its mission of serving and connecting people, communities, and the economy through transportation.
Allows MDOT's regions and engineers to expand their knowledge on how Michigan freeways are operating over time and how they compare to each other.
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
"Bridge in a Backpack", an emerging bridge technology was used during construction on the M-25 bridge over Harbor Creek in Huron County.
View the video - In the Field Reports - "Bridge in a Backpack".
Adaptive Signal Control Technologies (ASCT) is a part of FHWA's Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiatives. ASCT measure traffic flow in real-time and automatically adjust signal timing to promote smooth flow of traffic along arterial streets. These adjustments are made in real-time to improve travel-time reliability to produce smoother flow by reducing congestion and delay. MDOT is deploying an ASCT system known as Adaptive Control Software Lite (ACS-Lite) on two corridors as part of the EDC initiative. ACS-Lite is just one example of an adaptive signal control technology. ACS-Lite was specifically designed to be deployed using conventional control equipment, communications and traffic sensors on arterial streets, making it a more cost-effective alternative to other signal timing adjustment technologies. The expected outcome is for Michigan to embrace this technology and move ASCT in general into standard practice. The two corridor deployments by MDOT are on West Saginaw in Lansing and on M-84/Bay Road in Saginaw.
Project Examples:
As mentioned above, MDOT is deploying two ASC-Lite systems as part of the Every Day Counts Initiative.
Project status West Saginaw in Lansing has been operational since early March, 2012. M-84/Bay Road in Saginaw is under construction and expected to be operational by December, 2012.
In addition to MDOT, other agencies in Michigan that are currently using or pursuing the use of ASCT are:
The Road Commission for Oakland County began deploying an ASCT System known as SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) in 1991 and currently approximately 700 signals, well over half of the 1200 signals that they control, are fully adaptive.
The city of Ann Arbor began deploying an ASCT System known as SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique) in 2004 and currently have 44 intersections on Plymouth Road, Washtenaw Avenue and Eisenhower/Packard under fully adaptive control.
Genesee County Road Commission has deployed an ASCT System known as InSync at seven Intersections on Holly Road near the interchange with I-75 near Grand Blanc.
Related Links :
MDOT YouTube Video for the West Saginaw project in Lansing
FHWA Adaptive Signal Control
Approximately 12 projects/year proceed to further design beyond the base plan date without environmental classification. According to the procedure, Environmental Services Section staff notifies FHWA of each project, explaining what environmental concern the design process will address when moving beyond base plans. The Design Manual has been updated to reflect the new procedure and the Environmental Services Section is tracking this information for reporting purposes.
Related Links:
To view a table of Projects Completed Since 2008, please visit: Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC)
Additional information available is the FHWA - Construction Manager General Contractor Design Build.
The design-build project delivery method combines a project design and construction phases in one contract, allowing the contractor flexibility to choose design, materials and construction methods while assuming the risk and responsibility for both design and construction. This can accelerate project delivery, lower costs and improve quality.
MDOT used this tool during preparation of the Detroit River International Crossing/New International Trade Crossing (DRIC/NITC) EIS for expedited review times, and more stringent review of the traffic models and analyses. FHWA headquarters also provided review of the community and Environmental Justice impact analysis. This level of review was provided in anticipation of the legal challenges from the privately-owned bridge company.
Related links:
The flexibilities in right-of-way strategy encourages transportation agencies to take advantage of the many areas of flexibility allowed under FHWA regulations and statutes when developing highway projects. Using these flexibilities can help agencies save time and money on the right-of-way acquisition process while meeting legal requirements
The often-conflicting priorities of State transportation agencies and utility companies can adversely affect the timely completion of transportation projects. Potential utility conflicts exist on most transportation projects. It is estimated that half of all highway and bridge projects eligible for Federal funding involve the relocation of utility facilities, and construction generally takes longer and costs more when utilities need to be relocated. The initiative will spotlight existing flexibilities currently in place under Federal law and regulations and describe techniques that foster effective utility coordination during project development which warrant more widespread use.
Instead of conventional bridge support technology, Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) Integrated Bridge System (IBS) technology uses alternating layers of compacted granular fill material and fabric sheets of geotextile reinforcement to provide support for the bridge. GRS also provides a smooth transition from the bridge onto the roadway, and alleviates the "bump at the bridge" problem caused by uneven settlement between the bridge and approaching roadway. The technology offers unique advantages in the construction of small bridges, including:
Related links:
The PEL initiative within Every Day Counts is part of the "Shortening Project Delivery Time Toolkit". The idea is to better leverage data collection and studies in the pre-NEPA time frame so that once an agency determines a NEPA study is warranted, there is a foundation already built that can serve to meet the NEPA requirements without prejudicing the outcomes. The department is currently performing a study of the US 131 and I-96 corridors in Kent County as a PEL pilot to evaluate this methodology for broader usage within the context of our program development process, in particular the New Roads/Capacity Increase program. A consultant has been selected, and the work scope is being refined and coordinated with internal staff as well as the MPO. The study is scheduled for completion in December 2013.
Related links:
Prefabricated bridge elements and systems are bridge components that are constructed off-site under controlled conditions and moved to the work zone for rapid installation. The result is more durable bridges that can be built faster, more safely and with less traffic disruption.
MDOT and FHWA signed agreements for historic/archaeological resources and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) classification. We explored obtaining an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but determined the program currently has very few impacts on threatened and endangered species. Therefore, it did not make business sense to enter into lengthy negotiations for so few projects.
Related links:
FHWA - Expanded Use of Programmatic Agreements
Pavement edge drop-off on highways has been linked to many serious crashes, including fatal collisions. To mitigate vertical drop-offs, FHWA advocates installing the Safety EdgeSM on pavements during paving or resurfacing projects. This technology allows drivers who drift off highways to return to the pavement safely.
Roadway departures account for over half of all fatal crashes. Not all of these crashes involve speeders and drunk drivers. Some could have been easily prevented if a vertical pavement edge drop-off had not been present.
Many of these tragedies might have been prevented by a cutting-edge technology known as the Safety EdgeSM. This simple, inexpensive solution is a focus of the FHWA's Every Day Counts program.
Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is the generic term for a variety of technologies that allow producers of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement material to lower temperatures at which the material is mixed and placed on the road. It is a proven a technology that can:
MDOT has eight active wetland mitigation banks with almost 54 acres of approved credit. The department also uses other established banks for project mitigation, as well as preservation credits. With an improved program emphasis, far less wetland acres are impacted than in past years when the program had more expansion projects.
