Volunteers to Clean Up Along Local Highways

Volunteers will give local freeway roadsides some TLC this month in Southeastern Michigan.

As part of the Michigan Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program, the helpers--wearing bright vests as a safety precaution--will pick up trash from April 13 to 21. It is the first of other scheduled cleanups across the state.

"The spirit of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers is Pure Michigan," State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said in a prepared statement. "They keep our roadsides looking great, and help MDOT direct its limited resources to fixing our roads."

Thousands of bags collected, saving state millions

Volunteers in the program saved the state an estimated $5.6 million by collecting 65,000 bags of trash in 2012. MDOT provides yellow-green safety vests and trash bags while also arranging the trash haul, according to the department.

Civic groups, businesses and families comprise the current program participants. Crew members must be at least 12 years old and each group needs at least three people.

Due to weather conditions, the first Adopt-A-Highway pickup for northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula is from April 27 to May 5. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 13 to 21 and a fall pickup from Sept. 21 to 29.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Highway program, visit www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway.