LANSING, Mich. - Volunteers will fan out across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula to give state highway roadsides their annual spring cleaning beginning Saturday as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program.
After ice storms led to a disaster declaration in the area, the year's first AAH pickup was delayed in MDOT's North Region (comprised of the northern Lower Peninsula) and rescheduled to May 10-18, coinciding with the pickup dates for the U.P.
AAH groups in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Otsego, Roscommon, Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties will pick up during this period, along with groups across the U.P.
Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 12 to 20 and a fall pickup from Sept. 20 to 28.
AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people.
Highway sections are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. AAH signs bearing a group's name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate. Go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information.
