I-75 Freeway Signing Upgrades Improve Navigation Across Northern Michigan

CLIENT: Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT-Central)

Clear freeway signage makes a major difference for drivers traveling long distances, especially along busy corridors like I-75 in northern Michigan. To improve navigation and modernize aging infrastructure, MDOT-Central completed a 136.3-mile freeway signing upgrade stretching from the Arenac/Ogemaw County Line to the Mackinac Bridge.

The project included upgraded freeway signage throughout the corridor, along with the installation of two new cantilever structures and one new truss structure to support updated overhead signs. Together, these improvements help provide clearer guidance and better visibility for the thousands of drivers who travel the route each day for work, freight movement, and tourism.

Clark Dietz provided Maintenance of Traffic and Freeway Signing services for the project, helping coordinate and deliver upgrades across the corridor. The team also worked closely with the MDOT North Region design squad to incorporate three sections of signing work into upcoming roadway projects. That coordination helped avoid overlapping improvements, reducing future costs and minimizing additional construction impacts for drivers.

The project also included updates to the MiSigns inventory system to reflect new and revised signing assets, improving the accuracy of statewide records and supporting long-term asset management efforts.

While projects like this often happen behind the scenes, they play an important role in keeping Michigan’s transportation system safe, organized, and efficient. Through thoughtful coordination and targeted infrastructure improvements, the project supports smoother travel along one of the state’s most important interstate corridors.

Learn more about our traffic engineering in our Traffic Services blog.