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ESCANABA -- The final in this year's series of Adopt-A-Highway pickup periods, the Fall statewide cleanup, is set to begin Sept. 19 and run until Sept. 27. Motorists should be prepared and expect to see volunteers along highways across the state during this period.
The 35-year-old program has become quite popular across the state. As of last year, about 2,600 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway through the program. An estimated 19,000 participants collected almost 40,000 bags of trash from roadsides during the three annual pickup periods in 2025.
Getting involved in Adopt-A-Highway is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. 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 group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.
When working in the highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.
In Delta County and the surrounding area, there are many segments of highway currently adopted and expected to see volunteer work in this last cleanup period. There are still many segments of local highways that are currently up for adoption. Although it is too late to adopt a highway segment in time to participate this year, MDOT has encouraged interested parties to check with a local MDOT Adopt-A-Highway coordinator to check for segment availability to adopt in preparation for next year.
More information on the rules and process of adopting a highway -- as well as a map of adopted and available segments of highway -- can be found on the MDOT Adopt-A-Highway information page, michigan.gov/mdot/programs/highway-programs/roadside-property-management/adopt-a-highway.