July 3, 2009
Furlough Days Continue Next Week
I-75 to Reopen in Detroit
MPSC Offers “Beat the Heat and Save” Tips
Furlough Days Continue Next Week
Most Michigan state government offices will be closed on Monday to accommodate the temporary, unpaid furlough of state employees. The closures will apply to all general offices and services in state government. State offices will be closed on the following days:
- Monday, July 6
- Friday, July 24
- Friday, August 7
- Friday, August 21
- Friday, September 4
Some state services, including those vital to public health and safety, are not impacted. Services that will be maintained without interruption are Michigan State Police road patrols, correctional facilities, state psychiatric hospitals, veterans' homes and youth facilities, emergency human services programs, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency.
The unpaid furlough days will save the state $21.7 million before September 30, the end of the state's fiscal year. Approximately 37,400 state employees will be furloughed for the six days while another 15,500 are exempt to maintain public health and safety services.
I-75 to Reopen in Detroit
Area residents joined state and local officials at a press conference and community celebration this week to mark the early reopening of a 1.5-mile stretch of I-75 near the Detroit-Windsor international border crossing. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) originally scheduled the roadway to reopen in late fall 2009, but crews finished work five months ahead of schedule, allowing for the July 2 reopening.
The section of I-75 - which runs from Rosa Parks Boulevard to Clark Street in southwest Detroit - was rebuilt as part of the I-75 Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project. This $230 million reconstruction effort is designed to improve efficiency for commercial traffic exiting the Ambassador Bridge, remove truck traffic from local streets and provide for future traffic needs.
Last week in time for the fireworks in downtown Detroit, the SB M-10 ramp to EB I-94 and the NB M-10 ramp to WB I-94 were reopened. These ramps were closed as part of MDOT’s strategy to maintain traffic while I-75 was under construction.
While I-75 will be completely open to traffic in the late afternoon of July 2, motorists can still expect some intermittent closures within the project area during off-peak hours (9 p.m. - 5 a.m.) on weekends in July and early August, including local lane closures on Clark Street. These lane closures will be announced to the public in advance.
Work on the current phase of the Gateway Project will continue through the end of this year as work is completed on a number of key ramps and bridges. For up-to-date information on the Gateway Project, visit the project Web site at www.michigan.gov/gateway.
To lower bills:
• Seal air leaks around doors and windows.
• Clean air conditioner filters and coils every month to make them more energy efficient.
• Install a programmable thermostat. Setting it 10 degrees warmer when not at home can save
3 to 5 percent on electric bills
• Use fans – they can make the use of an air conditioner unnecessary. Ceiling fans, for example, can make a room feel six to seven degrees cooler.
• Lower the temperature on the hot water heater to 120 degrees, a setting comfortable for most uses.
• Plant leafy trees that shield the house from direct sunlight, keeping temperatures down. In addition, planting drought-resistant perennials, shrubs and trees can save on water bills.
• Unplug certain appliances when not in use. Computers, cell phone chargers, MP3 players, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, stereos and microwave ovens all use energy when plugged into electric outlets.
MPSC Offers “Beat the Heat and Save” Tips
With the arrival of hot temperatures, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) reminds utility customers that there are a variety of things they can do to lower electric bills.