Michigan Notes

[wanderer2575]

How about I get everyone riled up with a new topic?  On March 3rd, MDOT will be letting a contract for rehab and flex route extension on US-23 between M-36 and I-96.  Given the late letting, I'm guessing there will be some prep work later this year with the bulk of the work happening in 2024 and 2025.

[JREwing78]

No need to guess. It's in the 5-year Transportation Plan:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/programs/planning/five-year-transportation-program

They are scheduling this stretch for completion in 2025.

[roadman65]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

[amroad17]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

The NORTH/EAST and WEST/SOUTH directional change has always been at that interchange.

Is the interchange being reconfigured or is it just something simple as reconstructing and resurfacing the roadbed?  There really is not anything wrong with the interchange as it currently is.  Just asking because of the large mound of dirt next to the I-196 overpass of US 31 NB.

[Terry Shea]

Balancing end-of day cash receipts to cash on hand at the end of a shift has been increasingly harder to do -- especially nowadays when many smaller retailers either round change to the nearest nickel (sometimes restaurants now round change to the nearest dollar), or the occasions where if a cash total comes to $1.03, and if you offer them $2.00, they just say, "keep the other dollar, I got it". 

At least with credit or debit, the total is what they get, and the balancing us pretty much a snap.

Probably because most people under the age of, oh say, 40 don't know how to do simple math.

[Terry Shea]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

I-196 has always been signed E-W between US-31 and I-96.

[Terry Shea]

How about I get everyone riled up with a new topic?  On March 3rd, MDOT will be letting a contract for rehab and flex route extension on US-23 between M-36 and I-96.  Given the late letting, I'm guessing there will be some prep work later this year with the bulk of the work happening in 2024 and 2025.

Sounds to me like MDOT let one again!

[roadman65]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

I-196 has always been signed E-W between US-31 and I-96.

Didn't say it wasn't. Just pointing out it's being odd considering it's not a beltway. 

Then again I-69 is the same at Lansing. It changes from N-S to E-W there too.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

[Flint1979]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

Not from the state line they're not. That's the mileage from the southern end of I-196.

[Flint1979]

The SB Lodge has reopened at Grand Blvd. There was a shooting this afternoon.

[JREwing78]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

The NORTH/EAST and WEST/SOUTH directional change has always been at that interchange.

Is the interchange being reconfigured or is it just something simple as reconstructing and resurfacing the roadbed?  There really is not anything wrong with the interchange as it currently is.  Just asking because of the large mound of dirt next to the I-196 overpass of US 31 NB.

No, they were accommodating a rebuild of the I-94 NB roadway near Benton Harbor between Napier Rd (former US-31) and east of the I-196/US-31 interchange while they replaced the Bus I-94 interchange with a US-31/Bus I-94 interchange. That roadwork is basically complete, with mainly landscaping stuff that might be left this spring.

Speaking of Benton Harbor, there's some great Street View coverage of the construction in the area! Catch the SBD/WBD side of I-94 and you see the construction state in Sep. 2022 while both directions were on the SBD/WBD side still. Select NBD/EBD, and you see Oct. 2022 when traffic was back on their respective sides and they were wrapping up paving the ramps to/from US-31/Bus I-94.

https://goo.gl/maps/W71XwdvNi3Q12ft26

[afguy]

The Michigan Legislature approved $25 million to rebuild the I-96/Fruit Ridge Ave Interchange....

First, Michigan Department of Transportation Grand Region Engineer Erick Kind talks about how the interchange at I-96 and Fruit Ridge Avenue in Walker, northwest of Grand Rapids, has been outdated and in need of improvement for several years. As with all transportation infrastructure in Michigan, decades-long underinvestment has made the improvements cost-prohibitive, despite the growing manufacturing, agricultural, service industry, and community needs in the corridor.

The interchange is categorized as functionally obsolete and in need of replacement. Fruit Ridge Avenue has five lanes north and four lanes to the south of the bridge over I-96, but the bridge has only two lanes, which presents congestion and safety challenges. In the podcast's second segment, State Rep. Carol Glanville, who helped secure the $25 million for the project, talks about her advocacy and success helping others understand why it's a priority not just for the city of Walker but the broader region. She also explains how expanding the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge will allow for nonmotorized lanes and connections between trails.

https://orionontv.org/2023/01/25-million-for-a-key-west-michigan-freeway-interchange/

[wanderer2575]

Was noticing today that I-196 north of its split with US 31 is signed E-W instead of N-S like its entire concurrency with US 31 is.

https://goo.gl/maps/Pnb7LvT5GyhfWqUC6

Plus GSV captured the left US 31 exit being closed NB and reversed for SB traffic on US 31 to use the left NB lane on I-196. MDOT sends US 31 NB detour via a lengthy circle as the detour is not via M-40, but Adams Street exit to BL I-196 WB and then back to US 31.

Strange signing and much stranger detour for US 31 NB.

The NORTH/EAST and WEST/SOUTH directional change has always been at that interchange.

Is the interchange being reconfigured or is it just something simple as reconstructing and resurfacing the roadbed?  There really is not anything wrong with the interchange as it currently is.  Just asking because of the large mound of dirt next to the I-196 overpass of US 31 NB.

No, they were accommodating a rebuild of the I-94 NB roadway near Benton Harbor between Napier Rd (former US-31) and east of the I-196/US-31 interchange while they replaced the Bus I-94 interchange with a US-31/Bus I-94 interchange. That roadwork is basically complete, with mainly landscaping stuff that might be left this spring.

I believe what roadman65 was referring to is the rebuild of the US-31 freeway segment pavement between I-196 and Central Avenue on the south side of Holland.  Nbd was detoured; nbd side was reconstructed first and then sbd traffic was maintained on the nbd side while sbd side was reconstructed.  For that second phase, there was insufficient room for a crossover back to the sbd side before merging into 196, so that traffic was kept on the left side of nbd 196 and then the crossover was a bit farther south.  The interchange was not reconfigured.

My guess is that M-40 was not the designated detour because of truck restrictions, particularly the 90-degree turn from 49th Street to Lincoln Avenue.  MDOT usually does not post separate car and truck detours; one detour is posted that accommodates both.

[Flint1979]

Rust Avenue (M-46) in Saginaw is down to one lane in each direction between Sheridan and Washington (M-13). This is on a stretch that they just repaved in the summer of 2021. Not sure what they are doing this time of the year out there.

[Flint1979]

I would have just used M-40 anyway. That right turn from 48th to Lincoln is no different than any other right turn. I've never had a problem there.

[afguy]

I-94 in Detroit will be closed this weekend so the Cass Avenue bridge can be demolished.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2023/02/01/bridge-demolition-requires-closing-a-portion-of-i-94-in-detroit-this-weekend

[Terry Shea]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

Not from the state line they're not. That's the mileage from the southern end of I-196.

Never saw that before, but I never go that way.  Did they continue using I-196 mileage just on the short freeway portion after US-31 splits off toward Holland?  Why would they do that?

[JREwing78]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

Not from the state line they're not. That's the mileage from the southern end of I-196.

Never saw that before, but I never go that way.  Did they continue using I-196 mileage just on the short freeway portion after US-31 splits off toward Holland?  Why would they do that?
[/quote]

Odd, because the exit numbering starting at the M-104 exit (which coincidentally is Exit 104) is spot on.

The milemarkers starting from the I-196 interchange should start at 76 or so, making the M-40 exit 77 or 78

[wanderer2575]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

Not from the state line they're not. That's the mileage from the southern end of I-196.

Never saw that before, but I never go that way.  Did they continue using I-196 mileage just on the short freeway portion after US-31 splits off toward Holland?  Why would they do that?

Odd, because the exit numbering starting at the M-104 exit (which coincidentally is Exit 104) is spot on.

The milemarkers starting from the I-196 interchange should start at 76 or so, making the M-40 exit 77 or 78

I suppose restarting the milemarkers from 0 at I-196 made sense because the routing of the "missing gap" south of there was still up in the air at the time.  Why they got reset again at M-104, I dunno.

By the way, with US-31's current routing, the exit at M-104 actually should be Exit 100.

[Flint1979]

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

https://goo.gl/maps/DWaWozSemiFnr6H98
Are these enhanced mile markers accurate?  If these are correct then the duplex with I-196 would be only 20 miles then in which Exit 44 on I-196 would be out of synch.

Not from the state line they're not. That's the mileage from the southern end of I-196.

Never saw that before, but I never go that way.  Did they continue using I-196 mileage just on the short freeway portion after US-31 splits off toward Holland?  Why would they do that?

For some reason the mileage starts over when US-31 is concurrent with I-196. I don't think it should as US-31 is at mile 81 not 47 at that location. I saw someone mention the M-104 exit which is exit 104 in Ferrysburg. Strange because on the wikipedia page for US-31 in Michigan the mileage they have stops at Napier Avenue for some reason. I think the mileage list for US-31 needs to be updated.

[afguy]

I could see I-94, US-23 and I-75 south of 275 being feasible for tolls. I don't think M-14 would work as a toll road.

Toll roads in Michigan? Study shows where they might work

The consultants used 21 criteria to review the feasibility of assessing mileage-based tolls on all 1,922 miles of limited-access highways. Of the 31 routes, 17 were screened out, partly to avoid affecting low-income communities and to have self-supporting toll roads.

The 14 remaining corridors, encompassing 1,156 miles, were broken into three tiers based on their readiness for tolling: five to seven years for 545 miles, seven to 14 years for 232 miles and 15 or more years for 379 miles.

Tier 1, the nearer-term scenario that is based on tolls starting in 2028, includes:

all of Interstate 275 in metro Detroit.
all of I-696.
I-75 between the Ohio border and I-275 south of Detroit, and between I-695 north of Saginaw and U.S. 127 north of Higgins Lake.
I-94 between the Indiana border and U.S. 24 in Detroit.
I-69 between Marshall and Flint.
I-196 between I-94 north of St. Joseph and M-6 southwest of Grand Rapids.
M-14 between I-94 southwest of Ann Arbor and the M-14/U.S. 23 split north of Ann Arbor.[/li][/list]
[
Such a system would generate $1.3 billion in revenue annually by 2032 if the tolling rate was 6 cents a mile for passenger cars and 24 cents per mile for commercial trucks. The current transportation budget is $6.1 billion.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics-policy/toll-roads-michigan-study-shows-where-they-might-work

[Terry Shea]

I could see I-94, US-23 and I-75 south of 275 being feasible for tolls. I don't think M-14 would work as a toll road.

Toll roads in Michigan? Study shows where they might work

The consultants used 21 criteria to review the feasibility of assessing mileage-based tolls on all 1,922 miles of limited-access highways. Of the 31 routes, 17 were screened out, partly to avoid affecting low-income communities and to have self-supporting toll roads.

The 14 remaining corridors, encompassing 1,156 miles, were broken into three tiers based on their readiness for tolling: five to seven years for 545 miles, seven to 14 years for 232 miles and 15 or more years for 379 miles.

Tier 1, the nearer-term scenario that is based on tolls starting in 2028, includes:

all of Interstate 275 in metro Detroit.
all of I-696.
I-75 between the Ohio border and I-275 south of Detroit, and between I-695 north of Saginaw and U.S. 127 north of Higgins Lake.
I-94 between the Indiana border and U.S. 24 in Detroit.
I-69 between Marshall and Flint.
I-196 between I-94 north of St. Joseph and M-6 southwest of Grand Rapids.
M-14 between I-94 southwest of Ann Arbor and the M-14/U.S. 23 split north of Ann Arbor.[/li][/list]
[
Such a system would generate $1.3 billion in revenue annually by 2032 if the tolling rate was 6 cents a mile for passenger cars and 24 cents per mile for commercial trucks. The current transportation budget is $6.1 billion.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics-policy/toll-roads-michigan-study-shows-where-they-might-work

Good lord, why not just toll every mile of freeway!

[Terry Shea]

I could see I-94, US-23 and I-75 south of 275 being feasible for tolls. I don't think M-14 would work as a toll road.

Toll roads in Michigan? Study shows where they might work

The consultants used 21 criteria to review the feasibility of assessing mileage-based tolls on all 1,922 miles of limited-access highways. Of the 31 routes, 17 were screened out, partly to avoid affecting low-income communities and to have self-supporting toll roads.

The 14 remaining corridors, encompassing 1,156 miles, were broken into three tiers based on their readiness for tolling: five to seven years for 545 miles, seven to 14 years for 232 miles and 15 or more years for 379 miles.

Tier 1, the nearer-term scenario that is based on tolls starting in 2028, includes:

all of Interstate 275 in metro Detroit.
all of I-696.
I-75 between the Ohio border and I-275 south of Detroit, and between I-695 north of Saginaw and U.S. 127 north of Higgins Lake.
I-94 between the Indiana border and U.S. 24 in Detroit.
I-69 between Marshall and Flint.
I-196 between I-94 north of St. Joseph and M-6 southwest of Grand Rapids.
M-14 between I-94 southwest of Ann Arbor and the M-14/U.S. 23 split north of Ann Arbor.[/li][/list]
[
Such a system would generate $1.3 billion in revenue annually by 2032 if the tolling rate was 6 cents a mile for passenger cars and 24 cents per mile for commercial trucks. The current transportation budget is $6.1 billion.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics-policy/toll-roads-michigan-study-shows-where-they-might-work

Good lord, why not just toll every mile of freeway!

And of course you have to pay for a subscription to read about future tolls!  D'oh!

[Terry Shea]

I could see I-94, US-23 and I-75 south of 275 being feasible for tolls. I don't think M-14 would work as a toll road.

Toll roads in Michigan? Study shows where they might work

The consultants used 21 criteria to review the feasibility of assessing mileage-based tolls on all 1,922 miles of limited-access highways. Of the 31 routes, 17 were screened out, partly to avoid affecting low-income communities and to have self-supporting toll roads.

The 14 remaining corridors, encompassing 1,156 miles, were broken into three tiers based on their readiness for tolling: five to seven years for 545 miles, seven to 14 years for 232 miles and 15 or more years for 379 miles.

Tier 1, the nearer-term scenario that is based on tolls starting in 2028, includes:

all of Interstate 275 in metro Detroit.
all of I-696.
I-75 between the Ohio border and I-275 south of Detroit, and between I-695 north of Saginaw and U.S. 127 north of Higgins Lake.
I-94 between the Indiana border and U.S. 24 in Detroit.
I-69 between Marshall and Flint.
I-196 between I-94 north of St. Joseph and M-6 southwest of Grand Rapids.
M-14 between I-94 southwest of Ann Arbor and the M-14/U.S. 23 split north of Ann Arbor.[/li][/list]
[
Such a system would generate $1.3 billion in revenue annually by 2032 if the tolling rate was 6 cents a mile for passenger cars and 24 cents per mile for commercial trucks. The current transportation budget is $6.1 billion.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics-policy/toll-roads-michigan-study-shows-where-they-might-work

Good lord, why not just toll every mile of freeway!

And of course you have to pay for a subscription to read about future tolls!  D'oh!

And I'd really like to know more about this I-695 north of Saginaw!