Roadwork munising

Question

There are 3 spots on hwy M28 that have construction. We’re traveling from mackinaw city to munising. I’m wondering what the average time is for traveling since they are one lane roads. Has anyone traveled this going to the pictured rock cruise in the last day or two?

Answer

Good questions. Yes — there *are* currently road-work issues on M-28 near Munising/Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that may affect your travel.

Here’s what I know (as of now) and what I’d plan if I were you:

There is a planned repair closure on M-28 from the roundabout to Elm Street in Munising (east-west through town). For that day the highway will be closed and traffic detoured.
Outside of full closures, this stretch of M-28 has been under a larger reconstruction / resurfacing/streetscape project, which has included utility work, new road surfaces, and sometimes temporary lane shifts or reduced lanes.
When roads like this are reduced to one lane with alternating traffic control (flaggers or temporary signals), typical delays are variable. According to general work-zone safety studies, the added delay per vehicle through a work zone can average several minutes — but under heavier traffic, or if there are bottlenecks/flagger waits, delay could be significantly longer.

So what that means for *you*: if you hit one of these work zones — especially near Munising — on a day with active construction or detours, allow for extra travel time. Your plan from Mackinaw City → Munising → onward to somewhere else might take longer than Google Maps estimates. “Reasonable driving time + maybe 30–60 extra minutes” is a good cushion if you encounter reconstruction delays. If you can be flexible — e.g. avoid traveling through the stretch near Munising at peak times (mid-day to late afternoon) — that may ease the stress.

If I were you and especially trying to catch a boat cruise or make a schedule, I’d:

Check real-time road conditions on the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) “MiDrive” site shortly before I leave.
If possible, time the drive to pass through Munising either early morning or later in the evening — less traffic makes alternating-traffic flow faster.
Have a backup plan (or buffer) if the repair closure or detour is active that day — maybe shift your schedule for the cruise or next stop accordingly.

Bottom line: yes — there *could* be noticeable delays due to ongoing work on M-28 near Munising/UP, so your plan should include built-in extra time and some flexibility. It’s not impossible — just plan carefully and keep an eye on live traffic reports.

Roadwork munising

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