NORTHERN MICHIGAN — As summer reaches its height, so does the traffic congestion delay in many Northern Michigan towns that thrive on tourism.
For year-round residents, the contrast from the quiet winter months can be stark and often leads to frustration, as even a simple trip to the grocery store can take twice as long during the busy summer season.
During the peak summer months, nearly 500,000 vehicles cross the Mackinac Bridge, a stark contrast to the approximately 169,000 vehicles in January, according to Mackinacbridge.org. In Charlevoix, summer traffic increases significantly, with popular events like the Venetian Festival drawing large crowds and causing notable congestion on local roads, exacerbated by the frequently raised bascule bridge, halting traffic through town every half hour.
In a recent interview with James Lake from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), several strategies for managing summer traffic in Northern Michigan were discussed, shedding light on the complexities of maintaining smooth traffic flow during the peak tourist season and highlighting how solving the traffic “problem” can be a matter of perspective.
Traffic trends and hotspots
Lake acknowledged the significant increase in traffic volumes during the summer months, particularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
"Memorial Day weekend marks that surge of summertime tourism travel," Lake said, noting that traffic reaches its peak in July and August.
Key traffic hotspots in Northern Michigan include the Mackinac Bridge, Gaylord and the U.S. 31 corridor.
"Gaylord is kind of the gateway to northern lower Michigan," Lake explained, emphasizing the importance of monitoring I-75 and U.S. 131.
As in several areas in Northern Michigan, traffic data for Charlevoix reveals a fluctuating yet consistently high volume over the years. The annual average daily traffic (AADT) through Charlevoix along U.S. 31/Bridge Street was 14,734 in 2023, slightly up from 14,347 in 2022. In 2021, the AADT was 15,321, in 2020 it was 13,803, and in 2019 it was 15,405. Notably, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, 17,133 cars passed through Charlevoix, highlighting the seasonal spikes in traffic volume, according to Michigan.gov.
In August 2014, the Mackinac Bridge recorded 563,113 vehicle crossings and in the same month in 2023, 616,587 crossed over the bridge.
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Managing increased traffic
To manage the onslaught of tourists, MDOT employs several strategies.
"Most of our traffic signals, or an increasing number of them, use detection systems to modify traffic signal timing based on real-time traffic," Lake said.
This helps accommodate surges in traffic, although it doesn't completely alleviate congestion. Additionally, MDOT coordinates with local law enforcement and municipalities to ensure safety and efficient traffic flow.
"We routinely work with communities to address specific traffic flow and safety concerns," Lake added.
Lake also mentioned that during major holiday weekends, MDOT pauses construction and removes as many traffic restrictions as possible to facilitate smoother travel.
"We try to get out of the way and make that holiday weekend travel as painless as possible," he said.
Pedestrian safety and infrastructure improvements
Ensuring pedestrian safety amid increased traffic is a priority. Lake discussed how MDOT also works with local municipalities to balance traffic flow with pedestrian safety.
"Removal of a crosswalk means one less opportunity for pedestrians, which can have unintended consequences," Lake said.
He emphasized the importance of providing safe and comfortable places for pedestrians to cross the street.
To alleviate the heavy congestion that can often result in backups of over a mile in downtown Charlevoix, MDOT facilitated the removal of the north crosswalk at the U.S. 31/Clinton Street intersection in 2019. However, crosswalks remained in place for the other three legs of the intersection and along several other blocks of U.S. 31 through downtown Charlevoix.
According to MDOT, this change was requested by the city to reduce delays and backups for Clinton Street traffic turning north on U.S. 31. Charlevoix City Manager Mark Heydlauff said many residents had suggested the crosswalk removal as a key improvement to traffic flow, stating, “this is the one change” a lot of people believed would make a significant difference.
Accidents and traffic safety
Lake also addressed the issue of traffic accidents, which tend to increase with higher traffic volumes.
"We make a point of calling them crashes because we want to get away from the idea that there's no fault involved," Lake said.
He stressed that many crashes result from driver impatience or hazardous actions.
"Intersections are a common site of crashes," Lake noted, explaining that MDOT analyzes crash data to identify and address correctable factors.
Long-term strategies and community involvement
Looking ahead, Lake acknowledged the limitations of expanding infrastructure and finances to solve traffic problems.
"A lot of these communities don't have the room to build our way out of the traffic," he said.
Instead, MDOT focuses on using existing tools like roundabouts and lane conversion projects to improve traffic flow. Charlevoix employed a 4-to-3 lane conversion project along U.S. 31/Bridge Street in 2018.
Lake also highlighted the importance of community involvement in traffic management decisions.
"Local residents should bring their concerns to their representatives, as the community representatives are the ones requesting these closures," he said.
Lake offered a perspective that underscores the shared responsibility of managing traffic.
"We are not stuck in traffic. We are traffic," he said, emphasizing the collective role individuals play in the congestion they experience.
For more information on MDOT's traffic management strategies and updates, visit michigan.gov/mdot .
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 and adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 'We are the traffic': MDOT tackles Northern Michigan's summer congestion
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