Community Corner

Need To Know: Leaving Metro Detroit for Memorial Day

If you are traveling for the long holiday weekend, here's the scoop on construction, weather and how to stay connected.

For some, it's the first real weekend of the summer. If you're going out of town for Memorial Day weekend, here's what you need to know before you leave.

Construction

According to AAA, 34.8 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Memorial Day weekend, a 1.2 percent jump from the 2011 holiday period.

To help make traveling a little easier, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is lifting restrictions on 94 of the state's 132 road construction projects during the Memorial Day weekend, beginning at 3 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Memorial Day weekend begins the busy summer travel season in Michigan," said State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle. "Let's make sure everyone gets to their destination and home safetly."

Here's a list of the road projects that will still be underway Memorial Day weekend in Oakland County:

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • I-96 has three lanes open in each direction between Kent Lake and Milford roads with a traffic shift and reduced speeds posted. Closed are: north- and southbound Kent Lake Road ramps to westbound I-96; southbound Milford Road ramp to eastbound I-96; westbound I-96 ramp to southbound Milford Road; southbound Kent Lake Road ramp to eastbound I-96.
  • M-150 (Rochester Road) is closed in each direction between 2nd Street and University Drive in downtown Rochester.
  • US-24 Business Route has all southbound lanes closed while one northbound lane is open between Montcalm and the Woodward Loop.

For detailed information on traffic and construction thoughout Michigan, visit the Mi Drive interactive construction map. To check out West Bloomfield traffic happening live, as well as updated gas prices around town, visit Patch's Commute section.

Weather

No matter where you are this Memorial Day weekend (with a few exceptions, northern Michigan included), it's going to be warm this weekend.

According to Weather.com, the hottest part of a nation-wide heat wave will be in the Southwest, with Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas hitting the triple digits. As the week progresses, that heat is going to move into the central and southern plains, from the deep South all the way to the Ohio River valley.

In West Bloomfield and Metro Detroit, temperatures are going to hover around 90 degrees, so you might have to crank up your air conditioning if you'll be driving.

  • Friday: High of 87 degrees, 30 percent chance of rain and isolated thunderstorms. Low of 63.
  • Saturday: High of 79 degrees, 30 percent chance of rain and isolated thunderstorms. Low of 62.
  • Sunday: High of 89 degrees under mostly sunny skies. Low of 68.
  • Monday: High of 90 degrees, 10 percent chance of rain. Low of 65. 

But what about northern Michigan? If you're heading Up North for the holiday weekend, you're in luck: In Marquette, temperatures look to be in the lower 60s all weekend long, with a chance of thunderstorms Sunday and Monday.

If you're driving this holiday weekend, make sure you're wearing your seat belt. the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, in collaborating with General Motors, launched the state's "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign Monday.

During the annual campaign, which runs through June 3, there will be extra police patrols in 26 Michigan counties.

Connecting travelers with Pure Michigan

Last week, MDOT also released its 2012 state transportation map, which features a variety of QR codes linking travelers to social media sites that can assist them planning their trip through Michigan.

According to MDOT, links to the Pure Michigan Facebook, Twitter and Flickr sites allow visitors to join in real-time conversations, post photos of their travels and ask other travelers' advice about must-do activities.

Another QR code takes motorists to MDOT's Mi Drive traffic information website, featuring road construction and traffic information. Connections to the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are also available.

Printed maps are available for free at Michigan Welcome Centers and MDOT offices.

Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Tell us about it:


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