Local Groups Help Keep Highways Clean

Spring cleaning for the Adopt-A-Highway program begins Saturday for highway roadsides in lower Michigan and two local groups, Hartland Mom's and Livingston County Democrats, will be participating.

The first of three scheduled pickups this year will take place from April 13 to 21 and volunteers will pick up litter along state highways, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

The Hartland Mom's Group will meet at Kahuna Coffee at 9 a.m. on Saturday while the Livingston County Democrats will meet on Sunday at 8 a.m.

The Livingston County Democrats will meet in the parking lot of Ironwood Golf Club and will provide safety vests, trash bags, and pick-up sticks. There is a rain date of April 21.

Both groups reccommend wearing gloves and sturdy walking shoes.

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

In 2012, Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups reported collecting about 65,000 bags of trash, a cost benefit to the state of $5.6 million, according to the press release. Volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway's right of way. MDOT provides the vests and trash bags for free, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Current volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must number at least three people.

MDOT said that sections of highway are still available for adoption.

Interested groups should check the MDOT Web page at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway for more information. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing a group's name are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.