MDOT suspends most major construction projects this weekend

The majority of Michigan's road and bridge construction projects will be put on hold this Labor Day weekend due to the expected increase in road traffic. From September 1 at 3 p.m. until September 5 at 6 a.m. work will be suspended and lanes opened on 92 of the 155 active construction projects. For a list of the construction zones that will remain active or have limited lanes open head on over to www.michigan.gov/mdot. The list is too extensive to repeat here.

By the way, if you really want to avoid construction and traffic jams consider taking to Michigan's highways instead of the freeways. You remember highways don't you? You know, those two lane roads that pass through quaint little towns and beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace of 55 m.p.h.

Our family has taken to the so-called back roads in recent years and I must admit that the trip has been 200% more enjoyable. You don't have the stress of bumper to bumper traffic and lane changers constantly cutting you off. You can actually see Michigan's scenic views and pastoral farms since you aren't whizzing by at 75-80 m.p.h.

If you truly want to relax this weekend, take my advice. Hop on U.S. 23 along the Lake Huron coast. Cruise up M-66 and pick up U.S. 31 in Charlevoix on your way up to the Mackinac Bridge. There are a number of other main routes to choose from whether you are going north, south, east, or west.

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

I have updated the Michigan Squidoo Lens

The new web page that I wrote about the other day www.squidoo.com/bestofmichigan/ has been updated. I have added Facts and Trivia about Michigan in a bulleted list. I also added some news feeds from the Michigan.gov website so if you want to stay up to date on what is currently happening in Michigan you can now see it all in one place. One of the coolest parts is a set of links to videos on YouTube.com from classic moments in Michigan. There are some clips from the Detroit Tigers, Detroit circa 1954, Grand Rapids from 1953, and clips from the Mackinac Car Ferries (you know - before "The Bridge") from 1954.

I plan to keep adding and changing it as I see different ways to use this as another means of supporting Michigan and spreading the word about our wonderful state.

Head on over to www.squidoo.com/bestofmichigan/ and see for yourself. If you haven't voted in the poll or for the web page yet, please do so.

State of Michigan website is tops in the country

Well, it has been said here before, but now it is official. Michigan's state website, www.Michigan.gov, was voted as the nation's best by the Center for Digital Government. If you have never checked out Michigan's state website, do yourself a favor and check it out. You will be amazed at the more than 200 services available to you online.

Via WWMT News Channel 3

Update on Jim Dreyer's Mackinac Straits swim

I just checked out Jim Dreyer's website for updates on his record swim across the Straits of Mackinac this morning. The most recent post was last night at 10:08 pm. Here is an excerpt:

Jim has been fighting a very strong current all day in the middle of the Straits. He has completed 9.5 miles and is going to swim the breaker wall for the night hours to make up some time.

I am not positive, but I believe the "breaker wall" they are talking about is the causeway that juts out into the Straits from the St. Ignace side of the bridge. I had wondered how it would be in the strong currents that the Straits of Mackinac are known for. Hopefully they will have more updates this morning.

Here is another picture from the Mackinac Bridge web cam from this morning. What a difference from the fog that laced the bridge yesterday. Should be a better day for Jim to swim.

Good Luck Jim!

Swimmer looks to set world distance record at Straits of Mackinac

Michigan native, Jim Dreyer, is planning on setting a new record for distance in a continuous swim. Dreyer will be swimming the Straits of Mackinac where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet at least 31 consecutive times. If he does that he will have swam at least 125 miles beating the previous record of 122. He originally was going to begin this Friday, but he has since moved up the starting day to today, August 28. According to the current news at Dreyer's website, www.swimjimswim.org, the swim is scheduled to begin around 8 a.m. unless weather conditions dictate otherwise.

I captured this image of the Mackinac Bridge this morning from the webcam at www.MackinacBridge.org. Look at that bank of fog obscuring the middle of the towers.

Dreyer does not just make these swims in the Great Lakes to set records. He gathers pledges from people that help support the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Once the swim begins (scheduled for 8am this morning) you can check his progress at www.swimjimswim.org/eventupdates.htm.

Via the Traverse City Record Eagle

Michigan gas prices week of 8/28/06

Wow! Who would have thought that the average gas price in Michigan would drop $.31 from the end of July to the end of August? Today, the average price of gas in Michigan is down to $2.768. At the end of July we were paying $3.079 on average at the pump here in Michigan. One year ago the average price of gas in Michigan was $2.673. So, after all of the ups (and there seemed like more ups in prices than down) and downs of the last 12 months we are only paying 9.5 cents more than last year.

With that being said I have this feeling in my gut that these prices will NOT last. Labor Day weekend is coming. The last big hurrah before sending the kiddies packing for school.

My advice? Fill 'er up at the beginning of the week and top 'er off by Wednesday. The odds are that prices will go up this weekend.

According to www.MichiganGasPrices.com here are the current High and Low gas prices across Michigan. Highest Price - $3.38 - Wedge Oil & Gas - Allegan Lowest Price - $2.56 - Murphy USA - Fremont

Gas price data courtesy of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report.