The Michigan Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program will begin its 25th year when volunteers head out to pick up litter on April 11.

Volunteers wear high-visibility, safety vests when working. MDOT provides the vests and trash bags for free, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Because of snow still being on the ground in some areas, the first Adopt-A-Highway pickup for northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula will be later, from April 25 to May 3.

There will be a statewide summer pickup July 11 to 19 and a fall pickup from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4.

"We appreciate each and every one of the Adopt-A-Highway volunteers who head out to the roadsides three times every year," State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said.

Adopt-A-Highway Facts:

  • Of the 3,178 groups currently in the program, 833 have been participating for at least 20 years.
  • As of April 2014, 2 million bags of litter have been collected.
  • 6,700 miles of highway are currently adopted.
  • In 2014, the estimated value of the program to state taxpayers was $5 million.

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

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. Adopt-A-Highway signs with the group's name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

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