Weekend Storms, Busy Roads, Many Travelers: Memorial Day Essentials

Memorial Day weekend in Michigan is starting with humid, stormy weather and about 1.2 million people on the state’s roads. Millions more are on the road and in the air during what has traditionally been the unofficial start of summer.

Whether you’re traveling or sticking around the Detroit area, what should you pack or wear? Here’s your weekend weather outlook from the National Weather Service:

• Friday: Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe and Lenawee counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch through evening. Though the risk of severe weather is low, wind gusts up to 50 mph and small hail are possible. Otherwise, the high will be around 85 Friday afternoon and the overnight low around 67, with a continued chance of rain.
• Saturday: It’ll be partly sunny, but with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Expect a high around 86 and a south wind 6 to 10 mph. Rain chances lower to 30 percent overnight. The low will be around 68, with a south wind 5 to 8 mph.
• Sunday: Again, there’s a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms, but otherwise partly sunny with a high near 84 and a south-southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Clearing skies overnight, but a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. and a low around 65.
• Memorial Day: Just perfect! Sunny, with a high near 82, and remaining mostly clear overnight with a low around 60.

So Many Cars

The auto club AAA says more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 700,000 from a year ago. That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record and the most since 2005.

Nearly 34 million (89 percent) holiday travelers will drive to their Memorial Day destinations, an increase of 2.1 percent over last year.

“We are forecasting an increase in holiday travelers for the second consecutive year, and the most in 11 years, largely due to low gas prices, a growing labor market, and rising personal incomes. If these factors continue, the travel industry should enjoy a booming summer season,” AAA President Joe Richardson said in a statement.

The Detroit Metro Airport will see a huge surge in travelers, too.

Although it hasn’t been as beset by long security lines as airports in the nation’s largest cities, it’s a good idea to get there earlier than you normally would due to the higher travel volume.

There are several websites you can check to see if the flight you’re interested in is on time. FBOWeb.com integrates with Google Earth, but also try FlightStats.com, FlightView.com or FlightAware.com.

Need Help?

Dial 911 – If your vehicle becomes disabled, park safely on the shoulder, raise your hood and remain in your vehicle. Dial 911 and assistance will be dispatched to your location.

Avoiding Road Construction

The Michigan Department of Transportation is suspending work and lifting some restrictions on about half of the ongoing road and bridge construction projects to help ease holiday traffic delays.

You can get up-to-date information on MDOT projects at michigan.gov/drive.

Below is a list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during the Memorial Day weekend. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location.

Metro Detroit

Wayne County

• I-94 has all ramps at Trumbull Avenue, including the eastbound service drive, closed.
• I-96 will have one lane open in each direction at Evergreen Road.
• I-275 has all southbound lanes closed between the I-96/I-696 interchange and 5 Mile Road.
• M-1 Rail work in downtown Detroit continues, with lane and shoulder closures in each direction on M-1 (Woodward Avenue), I-75, and I-94.
• M-10 will have one lane open on the southbound service drive near Meyers and McNichols roads.

Macomb County

• M-53 has one lane open in each direction from the Red Run Drain to 18 Mile Road.

Upper Peninsula

• M-94 in Manistique, Schoolcraft County, has a posted detour at US-2.
• US-41 in Hancock, Houghton County, has a posted detour for northbound traffic.
• US-41 in Ishpeming, Marquette County, has one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift between Third Street and Second Street.

Northern Lower Peninsula

• I-75, Cheboygan County, has northbound lanes closed at M-27 Exit 313; traffic diverted to the off and on ramps. M-27 has northbound traffic detoured on I-75 and M-68.
• I-75 Business Loop/M-72 in Grayling, Crawford County, is closed at the AuSable River bridge. Detour posted.
• M-33, Cheboygan County, is closed between M-212 and M-27. Detour posted.
• US-23 in Cheboygan, Cheboygan County, has one lane open with a temporary traffic signal.

West Michigan

• Cascade Road in Grand Rapids has one lane closed over I-96 with a traffic shift.
• US-31, Muskegon County, has the southbound entrance and exit ramps at Pontaluna Road closed with a detour posted. The Pontaluna Road bridge over US-31 is closed as well.
• US-31, Ottawa County, has two lanes open in each direction between Ransom Street and Lakewood Boulevard with a traffic shift. The southbound US-31 entrance and exit ramps to I-196 Business Loop (Chicago Drive) are closed with a detour posted.
• US-131 in Grand Rapids has one southbound lane closed between Ann Street and Leonard Street. Also, the Ann Street ramp to southbound US-131 is closed, as well as the southbound US-131 exit ramp to Leonard Street.

Southwest Michigan

• I-94, Berrien County, has one lane closed in each direction between Stevensville and Bridgman. Also, the Red Arrow Highway ramp to westbound I-94 at Bridgman (Exit 16) is closed with a detour posted.
• I-94, Kalamazoo County, has a traffic shift in place at 40th Street. All ramps at the interchange are closed with a detour posted.
• US-31, Berrien County, has one northbound lane closed over the St. Joseph River between Niles Buchanan Road and Walton Road.
• US-131, Allegan County, has one lane closed in each direction over Gun River. Also, the 106th Avenue ramp to northbound US-131 is closed with a detour posted.
• US-131, Kalamazoo County, has one lane closed in each direction between U Avenue and I-94 in Portage. Also, the Centre Avenue ramp to northbound US-131 is closed with a detour posted.

Central Michigan and Thumb

• I-69, Lapeer County, has one lane closed in each direction between Clark Road and Lake Pleasant Road.
• I-69, St. Clair County, will have one eastbound lane closed between M-19 and Taylor Road.
• I-75, Saginaw County, will have traffic shifted between Dixie Highway and Hess Road.
• M-18 in Beaverton, Midland County, has southbound traffic detoured.
• M-57 in Chesaning, Saginaw County, has one lane open over the Shiawassee River with a temporary signal.
• US-10, Clare County, has one lane open over Chippewa Creek with a temporary bridge.
• US-10 Business Route/M-20, Midland County, has one lane open in each direction over Saginaw Road and Waldo Road.
• US-23, Arenac County, has one lane open over the Au Gres River with a temporary signal.

Southern Michigan

• I-75, Monroe County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift between I-275 and Dixie Highway.
• I-96, Ingham County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift between US-127 and M-99.
• M-14 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, is closed between Main Street and the Miller Road/Maple Road interchange. A detour is posted.
• M-50/US-127 Business Route (West Avenue) in Jackson, Jackson County, is closed between Ganson Street and North Street with a detour posted.
• M-100 north of Potterville, Eaton County, has one lane open with a temporary signal near Billwood Highway.
• US-12 in Saline, Washtenaw County, has one westbound lane open between Maple Street and Monroe Street with eastbound traffic detoured.
• US-127, Ingham County, has the northbound auxiliary lane closed between Grand River Avenue and Lake Lansing Road.

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