MDOT smoothing bumps on US 10-31

MDOT smoothing bumps on US 10-31

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

AMBER TOWNSHIP — While there has been a major construction project on US 10 between Pere Marquette Highway and Jackson Road since mid-September, motorists traveling between Scottville and Ludington may have also noticed another project occurring on US 10-31 between Brye Road and the US 31 bypass. Motorists may also be noticing the after-effects of that project.

The Mason County Road Commission, contracted and under the direction of Michigan Department of Transportation, has been conducting maintenance on that section of highway to help get a couple more years out of it.

The project has involved road commission crews milling out several of the bumps in the road. Those bumps cause problems in the winter and into spring, according to Steve Wessels, MDOT transportation maintenance coordinator who oversees Mason County.

“There were a lot of bumps in that section of highway so we milled them off making it a smoother ride,” Wessels said. “The result, however, has meant that while the ride is smoother, motorists are now hearing the milling, which gives the perception that it’s worse.”

Wessels said that section of highway, which is concrete, due to wetlands, is scheduled for re-construction in 2025.

“We needed to get a couple more years out of that section of highway without putting too much money into it,” Wessels said. “Earlier in the year, we put down mastic, which is the black tar-like material you see on the highway. This is a high quality product that we use sparingly and will help give some added life to the road. This is the second part of that process.”

Wessels said over the next few weeks crews will be reviewing the bumps and deciding if more work needs to be done.

“The bumps that were there are much more noticeable in larger vehicles,” Wessels said. “They really take a beating, especially in the winter and spring.”

Editor’s note: The section of highway between the US 31 offramp west of Brye Road and the Scottville by-pass is known as US 10-31, because it includes route 31 which travels east-west for that stretch.