Editor’s Note: Interested in free weekly updates from Northern Michigan? Sign up for the UP NORTH VOICE MAIL
By Mark Constance
ROSCOMMON / GRAYLING — Drivers traveling between Houghton Lake and Grayling should plan for delays beginning Monday, July 13, as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) starts a $2.8 million road preservation project on US-127.
The project will chip seal more than 13 miles of US-127 from the Muskegon River in Roscommon County to I-75 in Crawford County. Work is expected to continue through Friday, Aug. 21.
During construction, motorists will encounter single-lane closures with traffic shifts throughout the work zone. MDOT urges drivers to slow down, watch for workers and equipment, and allow extra travel time.
Rather than replacing the roadway, chip sealing is a preventive maintenance treatment that helps protect pavement already in good condition. The process involves applying a layer of asphalt emulsion followed by crushed stone, creating a new wearing surface that seals small cracks, keeps water from reaching the pavement below and helps prevent more costly repairs in the future.
The treatment also improves traction, making the road surface safer for motorists. Once the chip seal work is complete, crews will install new pavement markings and rumble strips to further improve safety. Rumble strips alert drivers who drift from their lane, helping reduce the risk of run-off-the-road crashes.
According to MDOT, the $2.8 million investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 24 jobs based on economic modeling.
Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, follow posted speed limits in work zones and remain alert for changing traffic patterns throughout the project.
Editor’s Note: Interested in free weekly updates from Northern Michigan? Sign up for the UP NORTH VOICE MAIL
