Lansing, MI - Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out along state roadways from Copper Harbor to Benton Harbor picking up litter.
Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 18 to 26 during the first pickup this year. A spring pickup period was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
In accordance with Gov. Whitmer's recent executive order, MDOT requires all Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household.
Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,750 groups cleaning 6,300 miles of highway.
Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.
When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.
Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.
The year's final Adopt-A-Highway pickup is scheduled for the fall, from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4.