In honor of Independence Day, which falls on Thursday, July 4, MDOT has paused some road construction projects. Nevertheless, this decision ensures maximum travel capacity and safety while minimizing disturbances to traffic.
(Photo : Pexels/Tim Mossholder)
MDOT Halts Road Construction Projects
Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation Brad White says the additional traffic around the Fourth of July highlights the importance of maintaining road safety. He noted that accidental death is a possibility when driving while intoxicated or inattentive. You can reportedly demonstrate your love for your country by ensuring that it is safe and by not allowing anyone, including yourself, to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
As mentioned, MDOT staff and contractors will stop all non-emergency lane closures beginning on Wednesday, July 3, and they will continue until Sunday, July 7, to ensure optimum travel capability and minimal construction delays. However, vehicles should be mindful that certain lane closures will persist to safeguard the traveling public despite the fact that the majority of construction work will cease. On Independence Day, MDOT wishes to assist Mississippians in traveling in a manner that is both secure and convenient.
Moreover, various construction projects are currently underway on the streets of 5th, 6th, 13th, Broad, Greene, and Telfair. The bridge connecting downtown Augusta and North Augusta is also experiencing considerable traffic, although engineers do not anticipate any serious issues. Based on the information provided by Traffic Engineer John Ussery, the majority of the debris on all of the streets currently undergoing construction will be pushed out to the sides, resulting in many lanes being made available for everyone's use. Therefore, there should be no disruptions to traffic flow, except for reducing lanes in some of the construction zones.
Road Accidents During Independence Day
Every July 4, the US honors its independence. Depending on the day of the week, July 4th falls on the Independence Day holiday, which might last anywhere from 1.25 to 4.25 days. Independence Day runs just 4.25 days at most since it falls on a Thursday this year. It will start on Wednesday, July 3, and will last until Sunday, July 7, at 11:59 p.m. Americans have plenty of time, thanks to this extended holiday window, to travel, celebrate, and savor a longer celebration of their country.
However, the National Safety Council (NSC) projects that 599 Americans may die on American roadways during the Independence Day celebration. Many choose to drive, which, in terms of deaths per passenger mile, boasts the most remarkable fatality rate among any significant form of motorized transportation.
Another typical cause of holiday celebrations is the consumption of alcoholic beverages, an indispensable factor fueling motor vehicle accidents. Therefore, using the confidence interval of 90%, the estimate of the number of people who died in traffic accidents during the holiday season falls between 508 and 698. In addition, since the holiday can span anywhere from 1.25 to 4.25 days, the death count over the vacation differs significantly from one year to the next.
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