Reminder: First Adopt-A-Highway pickup May 9-17 for U.P., northern Lower Peninsula

LANSING, Mich. ­- Volunteers will be giving state highway roadsides in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula their annual spring cleaning as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) groups pick up litter beginning Saturday, May 9.

The year's first AAH pickup for the Upper Peninsula and Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford counties in the Lower Peninsula is set for May 9 to 17.

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 11 to 19 and a fall pickup from Sept. 19 to 27.

Sections of highway around the state are still available for adoption. A new interactive map on the AAH website shows what stretches of road are available. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. AAH signs bearing a group's name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members must be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people.