Michigan Notes

[Terry Shea]

In other US-127 news, the folks at MLive posted a video from a couple weeks ago about the diverging diamond in operation @ I-94 in Jackson.

Compared to the ones I've used in Wisconsin, this one feels a bit short and tight to navigate. Clearly, since West Ave south of the interchange is posted for only 30 mph, high-speed movements aren't appropriate here. But I imagine there's going to be a couple folks surprised by the new interchange that will end up in a ditch or driving the wrong way through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hZULyJsXo

So instead of removing the signal on NB US-127 and making it a freeway-to-freeway interchange to make US-127 a full, free-flowing freeway, they instead added a signal to what would otherwise be a freeway, along with several twists and turns to confuse people and cause more accidents.  Sounds like another brilliant MDOT plan!

[zzcarp]

In other US-127 news, the folks at MLive posted a video from a couple weeks ago about the diverging diamond in operation @ I-94 in Jackson.

Compared to the ones I've used in Wisconsin, this one feels a bit short and tight to navigate. Clearly, since West Ave south of the interchange is posted for only 30 mph, high-speed movements aren't appropriate here. But I imagine there's going to be a couple folks surprised by the new interchange that will end up in a ditch or driving the wrong way through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hZULyJsXo

So instead of removing the signal on NB US-127 and making it a freeway-to-freeway interchange to make US-127 a full, free-flowing freeway, they instead added a signal to what would otherwise be a freeway, along with several twists and turns to confuse people and cause more accidents.  Sounds like another brilliant MDOT plan!

Yes, this is a much better example of MDOT's follies than the US 31 movement where at least the major movements were free-flowing.

Technically SB US 127 had a traffic light here before so it's not really a downgrade. But, it doesn't seem to be an improvement either.

I know it was probably a boondoggle, but this would never have happened had the I-73 project been constructed-the Interstate shield would have forced MDOT into making it free-flowing.

[JREwing78]

The I-73 project plan originally was to extend US-127 north of the east interchange with I-94, going around the north side of the prison complex, and merge into the existing US-127 alignment near Van Horn Rd. The section south of Van Horn Rd would be an extension of the US-127 business route.

If traffic demands ever require it, MDOT *could* build a flyover ramp from SBD US-127 to EBD I-94. And let's be fair - the previous interchange set the bar just high enough to trip over if you weren't paying attention.

[triplemultiplex]

Or if Michigan had the cash to do something more elaborate.
Been like pulling teeth getting just this third lane thru Jackson, much less the longer I-94 corridor.  The traffic numbers probably told them they don't need a free-flow ramp from SB->EB. The DDI also slows down traffic entering the city compared to the old configuration.
And really, compared to getting stuck behind a truck on a loop ramp, the DDI will probably get ya on 94 faster.

[Terry Shea]

In other US-127 news, the folks at MLive posted a video from a couple weeks ago about the diverging diamond in operation @ I-94 in Jackson.

Compared to the ones I've used in Wisconsin, this one feels a bit short and tight to navigate. Clearly, since West Ave south of the interchange is posted for only 30 mph, high-speed movements aren't appropriate here. But I imagine there's going to be a couple folks surprised by the new interchange that will end up in a ditch or driving the wrong way through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hZULyJsXo

So instead of removing the signal on NB US-127 and making it a freeway-to-freeway interchange to make US-127 a full, free-flowing freeway, they instead added a signal to what would otherwise be a freeway, along with several twists and turns to confuse people and cause more accidents.  Sounds like another brilliant MDOT plan!

Yes, this is a much better example of MDOT's follies than the US 31 movement where at least the major movements were free-flowing.

Probably, but it's a little like saying Joseph Stalin was more of a humanitarian than Adolph Hitler.

[skluth]

In other US-127 news, the folks at MLive posted a video from a couple weeks ago about the diverging diamond in operation @ I-94 in Jackson.

Compared to the ones I've used in Wisconsin, this one feels a bit short and tight to navigate. Clearly, since West Ave south of the interchange is posted for only 30 mph, high-speed movements aren't appropriate here. But I imagine there's going to be a couple folks surprised by the new interchange that will end up in a ditch or driving the wrong way through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hZULyJsXo

So instead of removing the signal on NB US-127 and making it a freeway-to-freeway interchange to make US-127 a full, free-flowing freeway, they instead added a signal to what would otherwise be a freeway, along with several twists and turns to confuse people and cause more accidents.  Sounds like another brilliant MDOT plan!

Yes, this is a much better example of MDOT's follies than the US 31 movement where at least the major movements were free-flowing.

Probably, but it's a little like saying Joseph Stalin was more of a humanitarian than Adolph Hitler.

WOW

[sprjus4]

In other US-127 news, the folks at MLive posted a video from a couple weeks ago about the diverging diamond in operation @ I-94 in Jackson.

Compared to the ones I've used in Wisconsin, this one feels a bit short and tight to navigate. Clearly, since West Ave south of the interchange is posted for only 30 mph, high-speed movements aren't appropriate here. But I imagine there's going to be a couple folks surprised by the new interchange that will end up in a ditch or driving the wrong way through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hZULyJsXo

So instead of removing the signal on NB US-127 and making it a freeway-to-freeway interchange to make US-127 a full, free-flowing freeway, they instead added a signal to what would otherwise be a freeway, along with several twists and turns to confuse people and cause more accidents.  Sounds like another brilliant MDOT plan!

Yes, this is a much better example of MDOT's follies than the US 31 movement where at least the major movements were free-flowing.

Probably, but it's a little like saying Joseph Stalin was more of a humanitarian than Adolph Hitler.

wut

[JREwing78]

And really, compared to getting stuck behind a truck on a loop ramp, the DDI will probably get ya on 94 faster.

I will *not* miss the old SBD->EBD ramp, entering 80+ mph traffic at 20 mph stuck behind a loaded semi, hoping not to get rear-ended before I can get to the left lane and floor it around them. Definitely won't miss the lack of shoulders or the crumbling pavement either.

[Flint1979]

I-75 has reopened after being closed earlier due to several crashes between the Birch Run and Clio exits. Exits 136 and 131 respectively.

[GaryV]

MSP is strongly requesting that drivers stay off I-94 from Battle Creek to the west. There is a closure between St Joe and Watervliet.

[Flint1979]

I-196 south of Holland is another one to avoid with closures in the South Haven area.

US-131 is closed south of Grand Rapids.

M-40 is closed south of Holland.

The Mackinac Bridge is under a wind escort. Motorists are asked to reduce their speed to 20 mph as they approach the bridge and be prepared to stop. Winds are currently gusting up to 50 mph in the Straits area.

[NWI_Irish96]

I-196 south of Holland is another one to avoid with closures in the South Haven area.

US-131 is closed south of Grand Rapids.

M-40 is closed south of Holland.

The Mackinac Bridge is under a wind escort. Motorists are asked to reduce their speed to 20 mph as they approach the bridge and be prepared to stop. Winds are currently gusting up to 50 mph in the Straits area.

Weather Channel has a guy in Holland and it looks brutal there.

[Flint1979]

I-196 south of Holland is another one to avoid with closures in the South Haven area.

US-131 is closed south of Grand Rapids.

M-40 is closed south of Holland.

The Mackinac Bridge is under a wind escort. Motorists are asked to reduce their speed to 20 mph as they approach the bridge and be prepared to stop. Winds are currently gusting up to 50 mph in the Straits area.

Weather Channel has a guy in Holland and it looks brutal there.

I don't know how I could be standing outside like that in this.

[Flint1979]

Northbound I-75 is now closed from the Clio exit to the Zilwaukee Bridge, a distance of about 22 miles.

[Flint1979]

Make that a complete shutdown of I-75 between Clio and Zilwaukee. It is closed from mile marker 131 to mile marker 154.

[Flint1979]

There is a video here of a MSP cruiser riding along I-75 for about 35 seconds and you can see the damage to the vehicles. I-75 has been reopened for awhile now but yesterday was closed for several hours due to the winter storm in various places which included a 23 mile stretch from Clio to Zilwaukee.

https://www.abc12.com/weather/michigan-state-police-stay-home-and-keep-large-vehicles-off-freeways/article_526f6c0e-82fc-11ed-9e03-af7fc0355878.html?fbclid=IwAR1jSyHYsx8LsiFABaZ2Fbi_RWJEAae01Ns4_e2jywS0ypOZ1_kM0WZX7n4

[Flint1979]

I-75 has been reopened in all the areas it was closed in since Friday morning.

SB I-75 at the Saginaw/Genesee County line is a slow go though as you come across the overpass from Saginaw County to Genesee County.

[JREwing78]

Yeah, it was definitely a brutal drive for the holidays, and I didn't drive out until Christmas Eve. I stayed south out of as much of the lake-effect snow belt as possible, taking the IN Toll Road to I-69 north. There were numerous storm chasers trolling the Lake Michigan shore, helping stranded drivers and showing the nasty weather conditions. Even out as far east as Lansing, the snow drifts built up quick if the plows didn't actively keep up.

[Flint1979]

Not road related but Genesee Valley Center in Flint is closed until further notice due to a water main break.

[wanderer2575]

I noted some months ago in another thread that when Cobo Center in downtown Detroit was renamed TCF Center, MDOT sent out a crew to slap a "TCF" patch over the word "Cobo" on BGSs along I-75.  I wondered what MDOT would do after Huntington Bank acquired TCF Bank and renamed the facility Huntington Place, as that definitely would not fit on a patch.

I drove through downtown a week or so ago and saw the answer:  They made "Huntington Place" fit by eliminating the second control destination of "Civic Ctr."  On southbound I-75 at I-375 (exit 51C), where "Civic Center" was the only control destination, the patch now says "DOWNTOWN."

[JREwing78]

Some quick and dirty photos from the recent I-94 and US-127 construction work around the north side of Jackson, taken yesterday.
https://imgur.com/a/T8rMjVs

Some observations:
- I-94 @ US-127 North has 3 through lanes EBD but only 2 through lanes WBD. The 3rd lane returns WBD as a weave-merge lane for Airport Rd. It would seem that MDOT does not envision an immediate need for 3 through WBD lanes beyond US-127.

- Hudson is punching well above its weight with equal billing as Detroit as a control city.


- Hudson does not receive any mention at all on SBD US-127. Simply Detroit.

[wanderer2575]

^  I happened to drive to Battle Creek for a conference yesterday, and gave myself extra time to stop in Jackson and get my own photos of the signs at the new I-94/US-127/M-50 interchange.  Whatever you think of the interchange itself, you have to be impressed with the amount and completeness of the new overhead signage.  There is still a little sign work to be done.

Previously the only pull-thru sign was on the southbound side; now there is one in all four directions.  Perhaps Hudson was added eastbound because the sign was going to be that wide anyway, so why not.

Nice to see that BL US-127 has been added to the eastbound exit; that was omitted previously.

The redundant Exit Only sign on southbound US-127 (cantilever support in your second photo) is from the original interchange signing and I'm guessing eventually it will be removed.

[Flint1979]

I happened to drive on SB I-75 the other day from Linwood to Saginaw. The Parrish Road overpass that had been half built over the summer is now complete but I'm not sure if it has been reopened to traffic yet or not.

[Flint1979]

Huge fire in Saginaw County last night. The old Ramada Inn at M-46 and I-75 burned down. It was this building right here.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4146342,-83.8949768,3a,23.8y,20.13h,90.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sOFbgVU7QiDi7Z6P74HgH6Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DOFbgVU7QiDi7Z6P74HgH6Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D275.10825%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[afguy]

MDOT will be hosting a public meeting on Jan. 31st to discuss the upcoming reconstruction and widening of U.S. 127I-496 between I-96 and I-496. Also, in 2025, U.S. 127 will be rebuilt between I-496 and I-69.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2023/01/17/mdot-public-meeting-jan-31-to-discuss-planned-us-127---i-496