LANSING, MI — The winter traffic configuration for the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) US-41/M-28 reconstruction and roundabouts project in Marquette Township has begun. Both lanes of the new roundabouts at Brickyard Road and Marquette County Road 492 have recently opened.

The project is suspended for the winter when weather prohibits further work. Median construction, vegetation planting, landscaping and other items will be completed next spring.

''We're very pleased with the way construction proceeded this season, and we look forward to all lanes of traffic and the new two-lane roundabouts opening,'' said Rob Tervo, Manager of MDOT's Ishpeming Transportation Service Center. ''These modern roundabouts bring a safe and efficient transportation solution to US-41. The project addresses some crucial safety issues, promotes efficient travel through a busy commercial corrido and, with the new tunnel under the highway, helps remove a trail bottleneck.”

Roundabouts offer a solution to the traditional intersection problems of delays, capacity and safety. Since traffic is traveling in the same direction and at a lower speed, crashes are reduced. Left-turn, right-angle and head-on crashes are virtually eliminated. Roundabouts make efficient use of space and increase the capacity of an intersection. They also reduce delay, emissions and fuel consumption.

In addition to the roundabouts opening, all temporary traffic signals in the work zone are now removed. Two lanes of traffic on US-41/M-28 are open in each direction. The grassy median remains to be constructed next year, so traffic barrels delineating the median will stay in place over the winter. ''Michigan Lefts'' is marked to allow indirect left turns through the median.

Tervo said that MDOT appreciates the patience and understanding shown by businesses within the project zone and motorists passing through during this construction season.

MDOT is reconstructing US-41/M-28 between CR 492 to just west of Brickyard Road, extending the existing boulevard. The project includes replacing signalized intersections with roundabouts at Brickyard Road and at CR 492, along with constructing Michigan Lefts. A new multi-use tunnel has been constructed beneath the highway, just west of CR 492. The investment for the road work is estimated at $8.5 million, with another $2.4 million estimated for the multi-use trail and tunnel.