Coleman Road Bridge Work Over US-10 Begins – What Truckers Need to Know

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction – Another bridge, another detour… Welcome to Michigan summer

It’s that time of year again — where orange cones bloom like tulips and detours become your new GPS setting. Starting **June 2 through June 12**, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is improving the **Coleman Road bridge over US-10 in Midland County**.

For most people, it’s a blip. For truckers? That’s 10 days of dodging traffic, getting rerouted, and maybe even clocking some extra unpaid miles.

Let’s break down what’s happening, how it affects you, and how not to end up 30 miles off route just because MDOT’s patching some concrete.

The Basic Breakdown – When and where

Project: Coleman Road bridge over US-10

Location: Midland County, Michigan

Start Date: June 2

End Date (estimated): June 12

Purpose: Structural repairs and safety improvements

Impact: Full bridge closure with potential lane closures below on US-10

They’re not just slapping on some duct tape. This includes concrete deck patching, joint sealing, and overall structural touch-ups to extend the life of the bridge.

Truckers React – "Here we go again..."

Let’s just say, Michigan isn’t exactly known for glass-smooth highways — and the trucking world knows it.

Local drivers: “If you’ve driven US-10 long enough, you already got your Plan B mapped out.”

OTR drivers: “Never heard of Coleman Road, but that detour better not send me through a Dairy Queen parking lot.”

Oversize haulers: “Bridge work = paperwork. Now I gotta resubmit my route to avoid it.”

Newer drivers: “Wait… they really shut down a whole bridge with 2 days’ notice?”

No matter how long you’ve been behind the wheel, sudden changes like this can mess up your ETA and your logbook — if you’re not careful.

Why It Matters – US-10’s a critical connector

Don’t sleep on this stretch of Michigan highway. US-10 might not be I-80, but it moves a lot of freight — especially ag, auto parts, and Midwest manufacturing loads.

If you’re running anything from Grand Rapids eastward or moving cross-state through Clare, Midland, or Saginaw, this bridge could absolutely affect your run.

Expect:

Temporary detours via local roads

Potential delays depending on lane closures below

Confused 4-wheelers clogging alternate routes

GPS rerouting you through farm country (you’ve been warned)

MDOT’s Plan – It’s short, but not sweet

Props to MDOT — they’re aiming to knock this out in 10 days. That’s tight.

But “10-day jobs” have a reputation in this industry… and it usually means 14 days if it rains, 16 if it’s windy, and 20 if it’s Michigan. 😅

They’ve announced:

Posted detours around the bridge (watch the signs!)

Updates to 511 and local DOT systems

A focus on minimizing impact to through-traffic below

Still, don’t assume the lanes under the bridge are unaffected. Sometimes they have overnight closures or lane shifts that’ll sneak up on you like a deer at 2AM.

What You Can Do – Stay ahead, not behind

If you’re heading through Michigan between June 2–12, do yourself a favor:

Check your GPS AND 511: Use both for real-time traffic

Plan fuel stops smart: Don’t wait to find a good pull-off when half your options are now detours

Use CB or Discord trucker groups: Fellow drivers will give the real-time heads-up faster than MDOT’s website ever will

Keep customer informed: If you’re delivering near Midland, let dispatch or the receiver know this might impact timing

Bridge work’s a pain — but missing a delivery window because of it? That’s worse.

Bottom Line – It’s 10 days... unless it ain’t

If everything goes to plan, the Coleman Road bridge will be back open June 12 and you’ll barely notice. But in trucking, things rarely go “to plan.” So heads-up:

Add buffer time

Prep alternate routes

Tell your GPS you don’t want another “shortcut” through someone’s soybean field

When a bridge shuts down, your route gets tested — but if you stay ahead, you’ll come through clean. No detour panic, no last-minute reroutes.

👉 Stay ahead of shutdowns, DOT traps, and low bridge chaos at LifeAsATrucker.com
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