Crews working for the Houghton County Road Commission will begin building a box culvert at the M-26 and Ripley Street intersection in Ripley, Houghton County, under a permit from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), according to a May 5 announcement. The work is scheduled to start on May 7 and is expected to continue until June 2027.
The project addresses infrastructure damage caused by the June 2018 Father’s Day Flood. Motorists should expect single-lane closures on M-26 from May through mid-August, with traffic regulated by temporary signals.
MDOT manages nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, more than 4,800 bridges, and various other transportation assets across Michigan according to the official website. The department also oversees non-motorized trails, railroad tracks, and airports statewide. MDOT employs more than 2,800 people and operates seven regions with multiple service centers and facilities according to the official website.
The department’s mission focuses on serving and connecting people, communities, and the economy through its transportation efforts according to the official website. Leadership at MDOT includes a director as well as chief administrative officer, chief operations officer, and chief strategic impact officer according to the official website.
MDOT’s operations cover a statewide highway system totaling nearly 9,669 miles along with related infrastructure according to the official website. The agency maintains all state highway routes—including M-, I-, and US-designated roads—and oversees bridge maintenance as well as rail services, public transit programs, aviation initiatives, non-motorized trail networks, and safety standards according to the official website.
The current culvert replacement aims not only to restore infrastructure damaged by flooding but also improve long-term resilience for local transportation.
