Talking Michigan Transportation

Just as crews began repairing sections of M-119 (also known as The Tunnel of Trees) damaged by April flooding, heavy rains in June wreaked havoc on more sections of the popular tourist route in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. Following completion of a $300,000 project to stabilize the slope beneath a section of M-119 near West Stutsmanville Road damaged in the spring flooding, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced in early September that it has reopened M-119 between West Stutsmanville Road and Terpening Road. This map shows current status and detour routes. On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation, an update from MDOT North Region Engineer Bill Wahl on work that’s been completed on M-119 and what long-term challenges remain for the corridor. He also talks about some of the other roads in MDOT's North Region damaged in the spring flooding. Finally, Wahl offers details on construction of a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at the I-75/M-32 intersection in Gaylord. The first such interchange to be built in northern lower Michigan, a DDI is an alternative interchange that improves safety, increases traffic flow and can reduce construction costs.

As fall approaches, and on the heels of last week’s discussion about creating safe crossings to prevent deadly and costly vehicle-wildlife crashes, we are reprising an episode from 2024 featuring a discussion with Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Public Information Officer Ed Golder. Golder talked about the decline in deer harvests being reported by hunters and an innovative program, now called Hunters Feeding Michigan , a name change from what was mentioned in the original podcast. Since then, Golder says the MDNR is doing more than ever to help farmers get deer off their land. I hope you enjoy this encore presentation. The podcast covers themes featured in a Detroit Free Press story detailing other creative efforts by the MDNR to stem the proliferation of deer in the state’s southern regions. Golder explained the challenges and how wildlife officials are tackling them. Podcast image courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Research indicates as many as 2 million vehicles collide with large wildlife in the United States each year, resulting in as many as 200 human deaths, more than 26,000 injuries and billions of dollars in property damage. Officials in Michigan hope to join other states in finding creative ways to address the problem. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Amanda Novak, a resource specialist at the Michigan Department of Transportation, talks about her work in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to study these collisions and ways to create safer crossings. Environment America reports that a survey of Americans about their views on wildlife crossings found that nearly 90 percent of them support the concept. Other relevant links: https://www.pew.org/en/trust/archive/summer-2026/states-act-to-reduce-wildlife-collisions https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/wildlife-crossings Podcast Photo by Da-shika on Unsplash

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Jennifer Roberts, national road usage charge (RUC) discipline lead at CDM Smith, the consultant selected by the Michigan Department of Transportation to study and eventually pilot transitioning Michigan’s primary road funding formula to an RUC instead of the gas tax. The Michigan Legislature in 2025 directed MDOT to begin the study and pilot program. Roberts provided a project overview and the tasks ahead, including project management, planning and procurement, statewide public outreach and education, legislative engagement, operational pilot, revenue modeling and, finally, findings and completion of a report. She also talks about what she’s learned from other states in various phases of studying or piloting alternative methods of paying for transportation, as discussed on the podcast previously with the Washington, D.C.-based Mileage Based User Fee Alliance (MBUFA).

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features another conversation with Joann Muller, who writes the Axios Future of Mobility newsletter. Muller talks about her recent reporting on Amazon’s Zoox (pronounced "zooks") robotaxis. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted a temporary exemption to commercially deploy up to 2,500 robotaxis annually for two years. All of this comes as Waymo, Uber and other companies make investments in the rapidly evolving automated vehicle (AV) industry and encounter hiccups along the way. Muller also talks about a recent road trip she made through Wisconsin in a Rivian R2. She was pleased to find a robust charging network eliminating any range anxiety. She was also impressed with Rivian’s use of adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights and talked about why the technology has been developed more slowly in the U.S. From the newsletter: A decade after shape-shifting headlights changed nighttime driving in Europe, the technology remains remarkably scarce in North America - a case study in how U.S. regulations can slow the arrival of proven safety innovations. Photo by Remy Gieling on Unsplash

On July 27, with little fanfare, the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB) opened, creating a vital commercial link between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people who played important roles in the earliest days of conceiving and planning what became the GHIB. First, Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) from 2006 to 2018, talks about the early planning and discussions about a location, environmental clearance and why it took so long as the name changed from the Detroit International Trade Crossing (DRIC) to the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) to finally becoming the GHIB. Steudle recalls the support and advocacy from previous Michigan governors, Jennifer Granholm and Rick Snyder, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s work to get the project over the finish line. The discussion includes some observations from a Detroit News story outlining the timeline and battles. Later, Mohammed Alghurabi, a senior project manager at MDOT who led community outreach efforts and built vital relationships in the southwest Detroit neighborhood where the bridge is anchored on the U.S. side, recalls the trials and tribulations and his thrill at seeing the bridge open to traffic.

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Amy Winn, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) administrator at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, talks about completion of the first of four components to fulfill long-time hopes to improve the flow of traffic at the bridge. Officials from MDOT, the City of Port Huron and others are celebrating the completion of Component 1 and highlight a sound wall and pedestrian path completed as part of the larger plaza expansion project. This component came with a $36.3 million investment, including a $25 million federal INFRA grant. Also discussed was the bridge’s rich history .

It has been five years since adoption of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , which, among many things, included federal funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Michigan was fortunate to receive $110 million of those funds. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Steve Minton, who heads the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Major Projects, provides an update on progress in executing contracts and installing chargers across the state’s NEVI program . Minton helped launch the MDOT program and offers his insights on the challenges and rewards of contracting, installation and meeting the needs of electric vehicle users.

A national effort, entitled the “ Reimagining America’s Interstates ” initiative, is collecting comments on new interstate facility suggestions, feedback on major upgrades needed on existing routes, and how the system can better meet the needs of the 21st century traveling public. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced this new initiative during a June 30 media event that also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the “Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways,” created when President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, along with the unveiling of “Freedom 250” highway signs in celebration of that anniversary. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), who participated in the event, talks about what the Interstate system has meant to the country and what could come out of the initiative. The initiative will spur renewed conversation about the benefits of the system as well as some unintended consequences and focus on ideas for improvement.

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich talks about the Fiscal Year 2027 budget agreement reached last week between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders. The budget negotiations also produced an agreement to advance Senate Bill 71 to the governor’s desk. The bill ensures that unauthorized individuals who illegally climb or breach restricted portions of the Mackinac Bridge will face enhanced penalties. Wieferich also offers an update on the Rebuilding Michigan program with many projects completed but some major work ongoing across the state, including I-94 west of Detroit, another segment of I-475 in Genesee County, an extension of the US-23 Flex Route in Livingston County, I-96 in Ionia County and I-94 in Berrien County.

Just as crews began repairing sections of M-119, also known as The Tunnel of Trees, damaged by April flooding, heavy rains wreaked havoc on more sections of the popular tourist route in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with State Sen. John Damoose (Harbor Springs), who represents the area, and Bill Wahl, acting North Region engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation. (MDOT). MDOT is already investing $300,000 to stabilize the slope beneath a section of M-119 near West Stutsmanville Road , between Harbor Springs and Good Hart in Emmet County, damaged in the spring flooding. Now, engineers are assessing other sections of the roadway washed out by heavy rains on Monday, June 29, as well as sections of M-66 and M-88 in Antrim County. Wahl provides a status report on each of the washouts and short- and long-term planning for both. Sen. Damoose talks about his conversations with business owners and other constituents affected by the road closures and the ongoing challenges to fund sustainable infrastructure in Michigan.

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Michael Townley, engineer of research at the Michigan Department of Transportation. (MDOT). Townley explains the safety and economic benefits of partnering with Michigan universities on research and why it’s important to MDOT. One specific project discussed examined the value of financing infrastructure improvements through bonding versus a program of pay-go improvements.

By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one from the United States, shaking hands to mark the completion of the deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with those iron workers, Jason Huggett of Canada and Casey Whitson of Michigan. Both are second-generation iron workers. Jason’s father helped build the twin span of the Blue Water Bridge linking Port Huron, Michigan, with Sarnia, Ontario. Casey’s father worked on the Renaissance Center in Detroit as well as Joe Louis Arena. They talk about what working on this once-in-a-lifetime project means to both of them and how honored each of them was to participate in the handshake. They each spoke about it to the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority after the handshake: Said Huggett: “I said it was about time we got to shake hands after seeing each other from a distance for almost two years, it was really something special. That handshake means a lot to my family, my two sons and my father, who helped build the twin span for the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.” And Whitson: “We would see each other, but we were far, across the river, apart for all these months working. To actually get to be able to meet each other and shake hands and say hello is really cool. It’s the biggest moment in my career and I now share something with my father, who helped build the Renaissance Center in Detroit.”

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) convenes its annual conference in Detroit next week, so John Peracchio, a member of the Michigan Transportation Commission and a long-time participant in the ITSA, returns to the podcast to talk about what to expect. In its mission statement , the organization “is a leading nonprofit uniting government, industry and academia to champion policies and investments that make our transportation systems safer, more innovative and more efficient. We work with agencies and industry leaders to advance technology-driven solutions that improve how people and goods move - enhancing quality of life, supporting a thriving economy and maintaining America’s global competitiveness.” Peracchio talks about what that means and how ITSA's work can ultimately reduce crashes.

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Susan Howard, director of government relations and policy for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), talks about the highlights of the latest federal surface transportation bill making its way through the legislative process. Leaders of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week formally introduced the BUILD America 250 Act , a bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that invests in America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs. With a dollar figure of $580 billion for five years, the bill preserves the core federal-aid formula program structure, puts emphasis on project delivery and streamlining, makes major increases in bridge investments and restructures some climate and equity programs.

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation highlights proposed legislation to include driving through work zones as a focus of driver’s training curriculums. House Bill 5767 would amend the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act to provide, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, that all participants in a driver education course must complete a work zone safety education course, developed in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and approved by the Department of State (DOS). First, Brian Sarkella, chapter president for the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) , talks about his advocacy for the legislation and testimony he provided to a Michigan House committee on Tuesday, May 12. Later, Tom Robins of Work Zone Safe talks about his work to adopt legislation in work zone driver’s training in Oklahoma and how it has informed efforts in other states.

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, an update from Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics , a Massachusetts firm that tracks data from drivers(participating voluntarily with their insurance carriers) to analyze statistics and driver behavior. McMahon spoke on the podcast previously, including a few months after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the law in 2023 making it illegal to use a hand-held electronic device while driving. Following a report in April from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showing crash numbers declining to pre-pandemic levels, McMahon talks about how that correlates to distracted driving related to the use of electronic devices. He said the significant drop in 2023 has been sustained but further progress has plateaued through 2025. “Looking at this year through April 30, I see a slight trend upward,” McMahon said. A recent State Farm survey found that distracted driving is the top roadway safety concern among U.S. licensed drivers ages 18 to 75. The survey also found that roughly 70 percent of drivers agree that hands-free laws would help reduce driver distraction. McMahon also talks about his firm’s findings about what areas of Michigan have the highest use of electronic devices while driving and a specific place that has the least.

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with two key participants in a panel discussion convened to discuss the need for a Michigan maritime strategy and sustainable funding. First, Elisha Wulff, a freight policy specialist at the Michigan Department of Transportation who has been leading maritime efforts , talks about the potential benefits from implanting the strategy and the challenges in finding agreement on a sustainable funding source. Later, John Peracchio, a member of the Michigan State Transportation Commission who moderated the panel discussion, talks about his takeaways and why he also believes a key priority is identifying a funding source.

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Amanda Novak returns to talk about progress on a federal grant to implement a pilot program for analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) in the hope of designing safer crossings. Novak, a resource specialist in the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Bay Region, previously spoke about the grant on the podcast in September 2024. She talks about things she and her colleagues are learning from counterparts in other states, including efforts by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). MoDOT described the research as “extremely pertinent” as, from 2019 to 2023, Missouri suffered 17,609 WVCs with 8 to 10 percent of them resulting in an injury or fatality. The state also ranked 17th in the nation for WVCs in both 2024 and 2025, according to the agency’s study. Michigan ranked fourth in the 2025 State Farm Insurance annual analysis . A previous edition of the podcast covered some creative things being done in western states and provinces as part of the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative . Novak also recaps important work being done to expand wildflower and tree plantings at MDOT facilities and medians to enhance habitat for pollinators. The importance of the topic was highlighted in a 2015 issue of “The Scenic Route,” a publication of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas.

As rains continue and in some areas of Michigan, rivers and tributaries continue to rise, crews from across state government and local agencies are working to protect and monitor the condition of dams, roads and bridges. Bill Wahl, associate region engineer for the Michigan Department’ of Transportation's North Region, is keeping a close eye on the damage to roads and bridges across all of the norther lower peninsula. He spoke on the podcast the afternoon of Thursday, April 16, about all that’s going on in the moment. Below is a list of bridges that have been closed and/or damaged by the floods already beginning with each structure number (STR): Arenac County STR 445 State Road over Rifle River Muskegon County STR 14563 Holton-Duck Lake Rd over Cedar Creek Manistee County STR 6460 Johnson Road over Big Bear Creek failed; closed prior to failure STR 6450 River Road over Big Bear Creek Grand Traverse County STR 3059 – failed; closed prior to failure Farmington Hills STR 14367 Tuck Road over Upper Rouge River MDOT Grand Region STR 8593 M-66 over Middle Branch River STR 7551 M-120 over Cedar Creek MDOT Superior Region STR 6792 US-2 over Big Cedar River Menominee County STR 6867 30 Mile Road over Little Cedar River STR 6868 31 Mile Road over Little Cedar River STR 6871 41 Mile Road over Big Cedar River STR 12855 Route 358 over Little Cedar River Midland County STR 6980 Schreiber over Weeks Drain