Michigan Notes

[Flint1979]

I wonder if M-44 was planned at one time to continue down Broadmoor to M-6 (with M-37 being rerouted to follow I-96 and M-6 around the Beltline/Broadmoor). M-6 had just opened in 2003 and there is a particularly nasty lane crossover on EB 96 for traffic to stay on SB 37

Unlikely.  That would add considerable length (probably about double) to that segment of M-37.  That section of I-96/I-196/M-37/M-44 is getting a fix.  It should be done about 3999.

According to Google Maps, I-96 -> M-6 -> M-37 is quicker than I-96 -> M-37 between I-96 and Caledonia.

May very well be, but it's still about twice as long, and many state routes could be eliminated, in part or in whole, if time was the only consideration.  For Instance, anyone travelling from Grandville to Zeeland is going to opt for I-196 over M-121 if time is the only factor.  So why does M-121 exist?

M-121 was Old M-21 up until about 10 years ago and was still state maintained so I'm assuming that's why it was given a state highway number again. I don't understand why they didn't just extend M-21 through Grand Rapids and leave it the way it was if they were going to continue to use a state highway number on it.

[JREwing78]

And now for some local road ranting:

Just south of Lansing, MI, a local road, Columbia Road, had its bridge over the Grand River replaced this fall. Photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1729056883811157&id=1083529628363889
and
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1726116400771872&id=1083529628363889

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/WZb4P6fZzeJ2

The "clear truss" design of the new bridge has one fatal flaw: it blocks a clear view of traffic turning to and from the south leg of Waverly Rd. Both Columbia Rd and Waverly Rd have 55 mph speed limits. WBD traffic on Columbia has no problems, but EBD traffic will struggle to see NBD Waverly Rd traffic turning onto Columbia Rd.

The Ingham County Road Commission's solution: a "Limited Sight Distance" sign. Not an EBD turn lane. Not a bridge design that provides drivers a clear view of traffic turning onto Columbia from Waverly. A stupid f***ing sign!

This kind of idiocy makes me want to dope-slap the engineers and bean-counters involved in building this bridge. It would have made more sense if it was coupled with a relocation of Waverly Rd east, but by the time they spent the property acquisition and road construction costs, they could've had a bridge that didn't create a worse traffic hazard than the old one!

[wanderer2575]

MDOT's plans to reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-696 between I-94 and I-75 this year have hit a snag:  The city of Roseville has denied a request to allow contractors to work around the clock. 

MDOT needs to get the entire project done in one year while the funding is available and also because I-75 (which will be part of the posted westbound I-696 detour) will be under major construction in the area of I-696 in 2019.  MDOT is confident the city will allow 'round-the-clock work for at least some periods once the contract is let and a detailed project schedule is made.  Note that I-696 in Roseville is mostly in residential areas, which is the reason for Roseville's action.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2018/01/01/roseville-construction-noise/109069170/

[Henry]

MDOT's plans to reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-696 between I-94 and I-75 this year have hit a snag:  The city of Roseville has denied a request to allow contractors to work around the clock. 

MDOT needs to get the entire project done in one year while the funding is available and also because I-75 (which will be part of the posted westbound I-696 detour) will be under major construction in the area of I-696 in 2019.  MDOT is confident the city will allow 'round-the-clock work for at least some periods once the contract is let and a detailed project schedule is made.  Note that I-696 in Roseville is mostly in residential areas, which is the reason for Roseville's action.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2018/01/01/roseville-construction-noise/109069170/

I am not surprised, given the freeway's location and the project's disruptive potential. Also, the MDOT deadline puts added pressure on the project, and unless there's a compromise from the city, it may not be met.

[Flint1979]

I remember when the Red Line in Chicago was under reconstruction in 2013 and had to use the old Englewood branch of the Green Line to terminate on the Southside. People would complain about the trains running down the tracks 24 hours a day. I got thinking when the Green Line use to run 24 hours where were the complaints then?

[abefroman329]

I remember when the Red Line in Chicago was under reconstruction in 2013 and had to use the old Englewood branch of the Green Line to terminate on the Southside. People would complain about the trains running down the tracks 24 hours a day. I got thinking when the Green Line use to run 24 hours where were the complaints then?

The trains probably ran over the Green Line much more frequently when the Red Line was under construction than they did back when there was 24-hour service on that line.

[Flint1979]

I remember when the Red Line in Chicago was under reconstruction in 2013 and had to use the old Englewood branch of the Green Line to terminate on the Southside. People would complain about the trains running down the tracks 24 hours a day. I got thinking when the Green Line use to run 24 hours where were the complaints then?

The trains probably ran over the Green Line much more frequently when the Red Line was under construction than they did back when there was 24-hour service on that line.

Even without 24 hour service on the Green Line that line still runs about 21 hours a day but your right the frequency of trains was probably different. But the point of the matter is your still going to get a Green Line train roaring up the tracks at about 4am when the line starts running for the day.

As for the I-696 construction, I don't see what the difference between vehicles roaring through there 24 hours a day and a construction crew working on the highway 24 hours a day. Especially considering that MDOT needs to rush to get this done because of the I-75 construction as well. I'd love to see the I-75 project get completed by 2020 instead of 2030 like it was originally suppose to.

[JREwing78]

Working to improve road safety since the 2016 deaths of two women cyclists, the Michigan Department of Transportation is doubling the width of bicycle lanes on Wamplers Lake Road [M-124].

Funding has been approved for a $1.3 million project to extend the paved shoulders from 4 feet to 8 feet from U.S. 12 in Cambridge Township to M-50 in Brooklyn, a 7.4-mile stretch on M-124, state Sen. Mike Shrikey announced Friday, Feb. 2.

MDOT also will upgrade street signs and pavement markers, making them brighter, more reflective and easier to see in low-light conditions; and add rumble strips along the white line separating the driving lane from the shoulder.

This is in addition to the scheduled repaving of the M-124 stretch

MDOT widening Brooklyn-area bike shoulders since deaths of two cyclists
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2018/02/mdot_will_widen_brooklyn-area.html

[captkirk_4]

Noticed 94 is in really bad condition around mm 30 in the St. Joseph Benton Harbor area. Every single lane I tried I kept hitting these long trench like holes between every segment with a BANG..........BANG..........BANG on my tires and suspension every few seconds. Cringed at all the stress on the car which is only two years old. 69 was a washboard too from 94 to Charlotte. This winter has been hard on the roads in the midwest.

[JREwing78]

The recent heavy rainfall didn't help matters.

More:
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2018/02/21/flooding-and-potholes-closing-dozens-lansing-area-roads/358226002/

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/02/21/potholes-metro-detroit-75/360891002/

[wanderer2575]

More wide 3d Michigan shields at the newly re-signed M-50/BL US-127/M-106/BL I-94 junction in Jackson.  I guess we've seen enough occurrences of this to say it's the new standard.

[MNHighwayMan]

MMM NEW WIDE SHIELDS

[thenetwork]

More wide 3d Michigan shields at the newly re-signed M-50/BL US-127/M-106/BL I-94 junction in Jackson.  I guess we've seen enough occurrences of this to say it's the new standard.

I noticed that in both M-106 shields, the "106" portion of the sign is on a separate add-on sticker.  Was this a route change, or recycled signs?

[Flint1979]

More wide 3d Michigan shields at the newly re-signed M-50/BL US-127/M-106/BL I-94 junction in Jackson.  I guess we've seen enough occurrences of this to say it's the new standard.

I noticed that in both M-106 shields, the "106" portion of the sign is on a separate add-on sticker.  Was this a route change, or recycled signs?

M-106 hasn't had any route changes in several years that I know of.

[wanderer2575]

More wide 3d Michigan shields at the newly re-signed M-50/BL US-127/M-106/BL I-94 junction in Jackson.  I guess we've seen enough occurrences of this to say it's the new standard.

I noticed that in both M-106 shields, the "106" portion of the sign is on a separate add-on sticker.  Was this a route change, or recycled signs?

Nope, it's not a route change and the signs are brand new.  On the first photo (with the BL I-94 shield), look closely and you'll see that the faint line underneath the 106 that makes it look like a sticker actually extends across the entire sign.  Looks like a manufacturing glitch or the sign was slightly damaged.  I don't see anything on the sign in the other photo that makes it look like a sticker.

[johndoe780]

Looks like I need to spend some more time on here. Just accepted a job offer I could not refuse in Clinton township.

[Flint1979]

MDOT has I-94 in Detroit completely shutdown between I-75 and Conner.

[wanderer2575]

MDOT has I-94 in Detroit completely shutdown between I-75 and Conner.

Demolishing the Chene Street bridge and half the Gratiot Avenue (M-3) bridge.

At this rate, the I-94 reconstruction should be done in 2049.

[Flint1979]

MDOT has I-94 in Detroit completely shutdown between I-75 and Conner.

Demolishing the Chene Street bridge and half the Gratiot Avenue (M-3) bridge.

At this rate, the I-94 reconstruction should be done in 2049.

It wouldn't surprise me.

[paulthemapguy]

MMM NEW WIDE SHIELDS

I, for one, welcome our new 5:4 aspect ratio overlords.

[mrpablue]

This has probably been brought up before, but does anyone know why they didn't keep the Muskegon freeway I-196 and the Holland freeway I-96? I think it used to be like this, and it seems to make more sense.

[abefroman329]

I-196 really should be I-296, shouldn't it.

[SSR_317]

I-196 really should be I-296, shouldn't it.

Well, the E-W portion of I-69 SHOULD'VE been I-98 also and I-69 should've gone north along old US 27 (now US 127) to terminate at I-75, but that's life in the bureaucracy! 

[Flint1979]

I-75 has now had two bridges hit by semi trucks within the last few months. First at Salzburg Road in Bay County and now at Coldwater Road in Genesee County.

[Flint1979]

I-196 really should be I-296, shouldn't it.

Well there is an I-296 that exists on paper but it's unsigned.