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.
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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.
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There are many common myths and misconceptions about transportation in Michigan. Transportation Reality Check takes on some of these myths, and explains why MDOT does things the way they do.
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The TRAC Internship is an extension of the TRAC Program and is designed to provide opportunities for 12th grade students interested in transportation and engineering careers.
YDMP provides participants with opportunities to pursue higher education, personal growth, and exposure to transportation careers.
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.
MDOT's seven region offices each handle transportation-related construction, maintenance and programs within the region's geographic boundaries.
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Start: March 2022 End: August 2023 Investment: $32.9 million
What Is Being Done?
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is replacing two 100-year-old railroad bridges over Jackson and Mechanic streets in the city of Jackson. These railroad bridges are on a segment of railroad owned by MDOT within the federally designated high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac, which supports Amtrak passenger service and Norfolk Southern freight trains. The project not only enhances this regionally significant rail corridor, but it also carries local significance as a key component to revitalizing downtown Jackson by improving safety and mobility for motorists and pedestrians.
Work began in March 2020, starting with advanced utility relocation in the project area and is expected to last through December 2021. Actual rebuilding on the Jackson and Mechanic railroad bridges is expected to begin in March 2022 and is planned to be substantially complete in November 2022. The project also includes rebuilding the Blackstone Road grade crossing and approaches, replacing approximately 1,300 feet of railroad corridor retaining walls, rebuilding and lifting approximately 4,000 feet of railroad track, and adding a nonmotorized pathway under the Mechanic Street railroad bridge. The two bridges will be replaced using accelerated bridge construction techniques.
How Much Roadway Clearance Will There be With the New Bridges?
The Jackson Street bridge will be raised to provide approximately 14 feet, 6 inches of clearance. For Mechanic Street, the proposed clearance will be 10 feet, 7 inches. Physical constraints, such as the M-50 (Louis Glick Highway) intersection, the Jackson and Lansing Railroad grade crossing, the Grand River water table, the nearby railroad bridge over the Grand River, and the Francis Street grade crossing, all limit the ability to greatly improve the proposed clearance at Mechanic Street.
Safety Benefit:
There will be detours on local streets and periodic lane closures on M-50 (Louis Glick Highway) to accommodate work. Intermittent full closures are expected on Jackson and Mechanic streets at the railroad bridges through November 2022. Railroad traffic will be halted for one week when the new bridges are installed.
Additional Information:
2020 Construction Brochure
Jackson Railroad Bridges Replacement Presentation
Jackson Railroad Bridges Update Flyer
News:
Jackson and Mechanic Streets railroad bridge replacements project in Jackson - Update #1
Jackson and Mechanic Streets railroad bridge replacements project in Jackson - Update #2
Jackson and Mechanic Streets railroad bridge replacements project in Jackson - Update #3
Jackson and Mechanic Streets railroad bridge replacements project in Jackson - Update #4
Jackson and Mechanic Streets railroad bridge replacements project in Jackson - Update #5
Contact Us:
Jackson Transportation Service Center, at 517-780-7540
www.Michigan.gov/Drive
www.twitter.com/MDOT_Rail
www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT
