The first MDOT Adopt-A-Highway pickup of the year is scheduled from April 13th through April 21st.
The program, which began in 1990, boasts around 2,900 groups who’ve adopted over 6,000 miles of Michigan highways. Dan Weingarten is Communications Representative for MDOT’s Superior Region. He says the program has three pickups per year.
“The first one always takes place in the spring and it’s usually the biggest pickup period of the year because there’s trash on the ground that’s accumulated over the winter and gotten covered by snow.”
There are two more pickups scheduled for mid-July and late September. Weingarten says volunteer windows are coordinated with county road commissions.
“So if we had people all over the state picking up at whatever time they wanted, it would make it much more difficult to then collect the filled bags.”
The highway adoptions are two-year stints covering a 2-mile stretch. Volunteers receive yellow-green safety vests and trash bags. And there’s that iconic Adopt-A-Highway sign commonplace along many Michigan roadways for dedicated groups.
“Keep your eyes out for the bright yellow safety vests that we provide to these groups when they’re out on the highway. Please slow down if you see them on the side of the road.”
There are many highways still available for adoption. You can find out more here.
