I-96 Closure/Rebuilding Has Begun..

[thenetwork]

The official closure of the I-96/Jeffries Freeway between US-24/Telegraph Road and just east of I-275 in Metro Detroit has commenced over the weekend.

A photo in the article HERE: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140405/METRO05/304050052/ shows some quite a few things:

- An unusual way they placed the closure banners "on" the BGS.
- A Flashing Yellow Arrow signal on the overpass
- A bit of graffiti on the BGS -- a common problem of late in the Motor City, per another thread.

[getemngo]

...not to mention a very ugly US 24 shield, and a North Carolina 39 shield!

I'm going to be in metro Detroit and on I-275 this coming weekend. It'll be interesting to see how much heavier traffic will be, and where.

[thenetwork]

I can still vividly remember the time when the west Jeffries portion of I-96 was only open between I-275 and Newburgh.  My aunt lives off of 5 Mile and Farmington, and once I-275 was opened, we would use that short stub to Newburgh.

What I can't remember was how that stub was signed from I-275 at the time.  I know that it wasn't signed as Newburgh (/Levan) Road, perhaps it was signed as I-96 even though it wasn't finished yet.

[catch22]

M-DOT has for now left the traffic cameras up, so anyone with "sidewalk superintendent" needs can keep an eye on progress.  They can be accessed from M-DOT's "MI Drive" page:

http://mdotnetpublic.state.mi.us/drive/Default.aspx

[catch22]

I can still vividly remember the time when the west Jeffries portion of I-96 was only open between I-275 and Newburgh.  My aunt lives off of 5 Mile and Farmington, and once I-275 was opened, we would use that short stub to Newburgh.

What I can't remember was how that stub was signed from I-275 at the time.  I know that it wasn't signed as Newburgh (/Levan) Road, perhaps it was signed as I-96 even though it wasn't finished yet.

I'm not positive, but I think the signs just said something like "To Schoolcraft Road" but it's been a long time and I've recycled plenty of brain cells since then.

Back then, I used the stub section of I-275 between Ford Rd. and those ramps to see just how fast my motorcycle could go, since I pretty much had the road to myself.  (Somewhere between 125 and 130 depending on the wind.)

[Henry]

Finally, something good for Motown! Those roads there badly need repair.

[JCinSummerfield]

...not to mention a very ugly US 24 shield, and a North Carolina 39 shield!

As a Michigander, surely you know that they don't put the "M" on the state route signs when they're on BGS's.

[getemngo]

...not to mention a very ugly US 24 shield, and a North Carolina 39 shield!

As a Michigander, surely you know that they don't put the "M" on the state route signs when they're on BGS's.

Normally if the diamond is in a black box, there's an "M". You'll see either both or neither. BGS's normally have neither. I always forget that it's different on a Big Yellow Sign (and it does makes sense to outline the shield when it's white on yellow). But it's never stopped bothering me.

[agentsteel53]

Normally if the diamond is in a black box, there's an "M". You'll see either both or neither. BGS's normally have neither. I always forget that it's different on a Big Yellow Sign (and it does makes sense to outline the shield when it's white on yellow). But it's never stopped bothering me.

the way you describe it, the black box with an M is just an independent-mount shield that was riveted to the BGS instead of being put on a post.  sometimes this happens because they have an extra sign that isn't quite right, but is close enough for government work.  this is especially true in construction zones and other temporary signage situations.

[thenetwork]

...not to mention a very ugly US 24 shield, and a North Carolina 39 shield!

As a Michigander, surely you know that they don't put the "M" on the state route signs when they're on BGS's.

And the North Carolina diamonds have more-rounded corners than the Michigan diamonds. 

[agentsteel53]

North Carolina used to have a stylized "NC" on their shields.  I think it's the 1961 revision that got rid of it.  in any case, I've never seen a black square with NC, just cutouts.

[getemngo]

Normally if the diamond is in a black box, there's an "M". You'll see either both or neither. BGS's normally have neither. I always forget that it's different on a Big Yellow Sign (and it does makes sense to outline the shield when it's white on yellow). But it's never stopped bothering me.

the way you describe it, the black box with an M is just an independent-mount shield that was riveted to the BGS instead of being put on a post.  sometimes this happens because they have an extra sign that isn't quite right, but is close enough for government work.  this is especially true in construction zones and other temporary signage situations.

What I meant was, ground-mounted signs normally have the black box and "M", and BGS's are normally just the diamond and the number. It's weird for me to see a "halfway between" version, even though it's technically correct.

But I have seen independent signs erroneously put on a BGS or LGS plenty of times, yeah. And a lot of reassurance signs in Oakland County, and some in St. Clair County, are missing the "M".