Michigan Notes

[thenetwork]

Is it some kind of ancient law that makes cop cars in Michigan have those goofy "Barney Fife" lights?  What's the deal with that?

Don't forget the swivel sign on the hood that says STOP!

[Flint1979]

Is it some kind of ancient law that makes cop cars in Michigan have those goofy "Barney Fife" lights?  What's the deal with that?

The Sheriff in Saginaw County who has been the Sheriff for several years wanted the old Western theme look for the cruisers that the Sheriff's Department uses.

[JREwing78]

Fox 2 Detroit decided to try its hand at covering the story behind why Michigan roads suck, with a 2-part series.

The first part, titled Michigan's roads are worse than Ohio's – what are they doing right?, attempts to explain why Ohio's roads are perceived as better.

But first, we have to do the standard pile-on about how horrible Michigan roads are (which may or may not be deserved), then throw in a jab that Michigan is responsible for half the "lane miles" - 28,000 to Ohio's 50,000 miles. And, OMG, the road color CHANGES when you cross the border! Clearly Ohio must be better... because it's darker?

The differences, so says Fox 2 Detroit:
- Ohio uses more asphalt, less concrete. Because concrete is bad, or something. (Actually, they say concrete costs more but doesn't last longer. Debatable. Also that it's less flexible and prone to cracking... eh, OK...)
- Michigan can't build a proper roadbase. Apparently MDOT's too stupid to use larger aggregates, or perform proper testing and evaluation like Ohio. Surprisingly, Fox 2 backs this particular assertion up with reports from Michigan's auditor general in 2022 and 2023.
- Michigan's sales taxes on fuel do not go towards the roads. Another valid point. But they state this fact in a way that makes it sound like there's no other form of taxation on fuel from the state.
- They (accurately) point out that while Michigan's max load is double that of Ohio, the per-axle load is the same.

The segment started out shaky, but improved markedly once they started presenting helpful facts.

That brings us to the 2nd segment, What will it take to really fix Michigan's roads? Oh, s**t! We finally get to a big part of the problem - the roads are underfunded.

How do we fix it? Oh, just get rid of the roads! Look, this politician (Rep Ranjeev Puri) thinks it's a good idea! Oh, and hey, let's just use drones to transport everything instead! (Sigh... Can we get some non-idiotic reporting here? Please?)

OK, back to facts. Ohio spends $2.5 billion a year to Michigan's $1.5 billion. That has obvious consequences on road quality.

"Oh hey, Ohio agreed to spend more on roads, but Michigan couldn't do that." Um, yeah. Let's gloss over the PAINFULLY OBVIOUS REASONS for that, shall we? First, asking for a 45 cent hike up front was overly ambitious. 

(ALSO... Gov. Whitmer is a Democrat trying to get a Republican-controlled legislature to cooperate - at least until 2022. Gov Dewine is a Republican working with a Republican legislature. OF COURSE he got his funding!)

At least Fox 2 didn't gloss over this fact - voters don't like paying more taxes for anything, ever. So, yeah, partially your own fault there, Michiganders.

And then Fox 2 drives into the ditch... they claim part of the problem is that it takes a supermajority of the Michigan legislature to approve a tax increase. Wait, what? Didn't stop previous legislatures from raising fuel taxes.

There was Proposal 5 in 2012 that purported to put a supermajority requirement in place to raise taxes. It never passed. So, Fox 2, WTF are you talking about?

Why can't Michigan fix the damn roads? Maybe part of the problem is incompetent media coverage of the issue.

[jzn110]

Is it some kind of ancient law that makes cop cars in Michigan have those goofy "Barney Fife" lights?  What's the deal with that?

Don't forget the swivel sign on the hood that says STOP!

As far as the Michigan State Police are concerned, they still use the single red flasher beacon on the roof and the "STOP" fin on the hood out of tradition because both have become deeply symbolic of the department.

In fact, they recently worked with SoundOff Signal to develop a "next generation" of the roof beacon that's slightly shorter in height — because the current generation of Ford Explorer-based cruisers are a couple inches taller, and the shorter beacons ensure they can still fit in existing garage stalls.

[wanderer2575]

As far as the Michigan State Police are concerned, they still use the single red flasher beacon on the roof and the "STOP" fin on the hood out of tradition because both have become deeply symbolic of the department.

Some of those MSP roof beacons (maybe newer ones?) flash only on the back half while the front half is a steady solid red.  I wonder why that is; seems to me the flashing light would better attract motorists' attention in the rearview mirrors for them to move out of the way.  It reminds me of the lights on the police cars seen on Adam-12 in the late '60s/early '70s.

[bulldog1979]

Michigan's last unregulated highway is getting a speed limit. M-185 is going to have a posted speed limit under legislation signed by Gov. Whitmer this week.

[JREwing78]

Michigan's last unregulated highway is getting a speed limit. M-185 is going to have a posted speed limit under legislation signed by Gov. Whitmer this week.

I suspect speed enforcement will look a lot like this:

[JREwing78]

Hmmm... what exactly is MDOT doing here (besides replacing bridges) - @ I-96 at the Grand River between M-99 and Lansing Rd: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5sfgYeh7JLpjjGRM8

Note the odd angle of the new bridge structure going up. While there's definitely no ROW width issue, the angle of the new structure makes it slightly awkward for future use by WBD I-96 traffic, but perfect for maintaining EBD I-96 traffic while MDOT replaces or repairs other overpasses east toward US-127.
 
But this 3rd span isn't a temporary bridge - it's a permanent structure. It looks like ultimately (10-20 years into the future), I-96 will emerge with a narrower median separating both directions between the I-69 interchange and Creyts Rd. It also appears at some point MDOT is going to replace the cloverleaf at Lansing Rd (Old 27) with a narrower interchange. Why else have the new, permanent bridge angled this way?

[Flint1979]

Michigan's last unregulated highway is getting a speed limit. M-185 is going to have a posted speed limit under legislation signed by Gov. Whitmer this week.

Like she has nothing better to do.

[Flint1979]

Hmmm... what exactly is MDOT doing here (besides replacing bridges) - @ I-96 at the Grand River between M-99 and Lansing Rd: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5sfgYeh7JLpjjGRM8

Note the odd angle of the new bridge structure going up. While there's definitely no ROW width issue, the angle of the new structure makes it slightly awkward for future use by WBD I-96 traffic, but perfect for maintaining EBD I-96 traffic while MDOT replaces or repairs other overpasses east toward US-127.
 
But this 3rd span isn't a temporary bridge - it's a permanent structure. It looks like ultimately (10-20 years into the future), I-96 will emerge with a narrower median separating both directions between the I-69 interchange and Creyts Rd. It also appears at some point MDOT is going to replace the cloverleaf at Lansing Rd (Old 27) with a narrower interchange. Why else have the new, permanent bridge angled this way?

They are rebuilding I-96 in both directions over Billwood Highway, the Grand River, M-99 and Washington Avenue. You'll see the finished product next year.

[wanderer2575]

Michigan's last unregulated highway is getting a speed limit. M-185 is going to have a posted speed limit under legislation signed by Gov. Whitmer this week.

Like she has nothing better to do.

I'm tired of hearing that comment.  Part of the governor's job is to approve or veto legislation.  This took her maybe five minutes.  How much time did the legislature spend on it?

[wanderer2575]

Hmmm... what exactly is MDOT doing here (besides replacing bridges) - @ I-96 at the Grand River between M-99 and Lansing Rd: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5sfgYeh7JLpjjGRM8

Note the odd angle of the new bridge structure going up. While there's definitely no ROW width issue, the angle of the new structure makes it slightly awkward for future use by WBD I-96 traffic, but perfect for maintaining EBD I-96 traffic while MDOT replaces or repairs other overpasses east toward US-127.
 
But this 3rd span isn't a temporary bridge - it's a permanent structure. It looks like ultimately (10-20 years into the future), I-96 will emerge with a narrower median separating both directions between the I-69 interchange and Creyts Rd. It also appears at some point MDOT is going to replace the cloverleaf at Lansing Rd (Old 27) with a narrower interchange. Why else have the new, permanent bridge angled this way?

Looks like the new span might be closer to a right angle to the river and therefore slightly shorter than the existing one.  Shorter = less expensive.  See the replacement LaPlaisance Road bridge over I-75 in Monroe -- shorter bridge at a different angle, even though it required adding curves to the road at both ends.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/bwJCwfAbcecrUgQX6

But how this fits into future overall design, good question.

[Flint1979]

https://www.abc12.com/news/local/mdot-unveils-major-changes-for-i-475-in-flint-and-burton/article_a3a1b402-455f-11ef-8f2c-4f8e7c4e9ff1.html

[The Ghostbuster]

Would it be possible to construct decks over Interstate 475 just north of the Interstate 69 interchange? That might really liven things up in the surrounding neighborhoods.

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm sure it's possible, but that money would likely have to come out of the state's pocket. Flint doesn't exactly seem like they're flush with cash to do something like that.

[Flint1979]

I really think that they should start widening I-75 south of the 125 mile marker. Currently it goes from four lanes down to three and it's a daily bottleneck between mile markers 122 and 125.

[KelleyCook]

Sure that entire section needed to be expanded and many of its intersections fixed (multiple left hand entrances on blind corners).

Instead they did no re-engineering work and are in year 2 of 3 of construction hell simply to replace the pavement.

[74/171FAN]

I got some photos of the US 12/US 127 and US 127/US 223 intersections from a couple weeks ago.  The sign errors abound in this set of photos.  (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBCehE)  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220673017295845&set=a.10220673028936136)

[wanderer2575]

I got some photos of the US 12/US 127 and US 127/US 223 intersections from a couple weeks ago.  The sign errors abound in this set of photos.  (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBCehE)  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220673017295845&set=a.10220673028936136)

Those all look like temporary signage so I'm hoping they get fixed eventually.  I got a photo of the TO MA-12 assembly a few months ago and posted it in the US/state shield mixup thread.  I drove through the US-12/US-127 intersection again this past Friday afternoon and was going to detour to get some sign photos at US-223, but it was raining like a bastard and I saw the portable VMS with a lane-closure message, meaning the project still isn't finished.

[wanderer2575]

Here we go again!  MDOT will be letting a contract (10/04/2024, item 2410 201) for patching and joint repair on the Zilwaukee Bridge next year.  Southbound I-75 will be closed 04/14 through 06/27, northbound will be closed 07/14 through 11/14, with I-675 as the main detour route.  ISTR last time this maintenance was done there was a construction incident that kept one side closed the entire construction season and the work never got done on the other side.

[Terry Shea]

Grand Rapids is building a soccer stadium, an amphitheater and 5 high rise buildings (3 residential, 1 hotel and 1 office building) between 18-43 stories are being proposed along and near the S-curve area on US-131.  I'm all for the development, but traffic along US-131 and the area surface streets is already a nightmare.  And there doesn't appear to be room for any expansion, which is already badly needed.  There are already buildings within just a few feet of the S-curve and exit and entrance ramps in the area are too short and get backed up causing major congestion.  Anyone have any thoughts/potential solutions on this?
 https://www.wgvunews.org/news/2024-03-27/gr-skyline-could-change-with-proposed-high-rise-plans
 https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/09/5-things-to-know-about-the-massive-skyline-changing-grand-rapids-riverfront-project.html

[JREwing78]

Additional "The Rapid" BRT routes with higher-frequency would be a good start. 

MDOT isn't touching the S-Curve in the next 5 years other than reapplying an anti-skid epoxy overlay, according to the 5 year Transportation Program. They're also planning to perform patching and such north of the S-Curve. 

Absent some ginormous pile of money getting dumped into MDOT's hands specifically to target Grand Rapids-area roadways, don't hold your breath for any improvement in traffic. 

[Flint1979]

Here we go again!  MDOT will be letting a contract (10/04/2024, item 2410 201) for patching and joint repair on the Zilwaukee Bridge next year.  Southbound I-75 will be closed 04/14 through 06/27, northbound will be closed 07/14 through 11/14, with I-675 as the main detour route.  ISTR last time this maintenance was done there was a construction incident that kept one side closed the entire construction season and the work never got done on the other side.

The construction incident you are referring to is most likely from 2008 when they were replacing bearings and found out they were not designed properly. They did bearing replacement in 2014 though as well.

[wanderer2575]

Having seen the results of several sign replacement projects, I think it's safe to say that Michigan has transitioned to using elongated shields for most 3-digit M-route shields.  But, like many US-131 and US-141 shields in the field, elongated diamonds aren't being used for 3-digit routes with two "1"s because it's not necessary for the number to fit.

Photo taken yesterday:

[The Ghostbuster]

Are end signs common in Michigan? I know they are common here in Wisconsin.