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Michigan Notes

Started by MDOTFanFB, October 26, 2012, 08:06:31 PM

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The Ghostbuster

Given that M-85 is a four-lane highway with Michigan Lefts, I'm surprised a grade-separated railroad crossing wasn't constructed before now.


tigerwings

I see that Allen Rd is still waiting for a grade-separated railroad crossing, Woodhaven and Wayne County have been trying for decades. With Fort St being a state highway it will get the green.

afguy

This article is a year old, but the Battle Creek City Commission voted to support a resolution calling for MDOT to rebuild I-194 as is. The project to rebuild I-194 would cost $189 million and probably wouldn't start for at least 4-5 years.

Battle Creek commission votes on future I-194 layout
QuoteIn an 8-1 vote, Battle Creek City Commissioners passed a resolution supporting replacement option one, an in-kind freeway with grade-separated intersections. It is essentially the same configuration as I-194 is now — only the pavement, bridges and intersections are built brand-new. However, it is more expensive to build up front and to maintain year-over-year, with an $189 million price tag in 2024 dollars, according to MDOT spokesman Nick Schirripa.
"We can rebuild it almost exactly like it is now, not change anything functionally," he explained. "It's going to look and feel the same."

Replacement option two, which was not chosen, was a boulevard with at-grade intersections, which would have cost less up front and over time at $101 million in 2024 dollars. No bridges were in the layout, which instead featured intersections, Michigan left turns and traffic lights. Schirripa said roundabouts were not part of either plan. He explained that it would be eerily similar to US-131 in the Schoolcraft area.
https://www.woodtv.com/news/calhoun-county/battle-creek-commission-to-weigh-in-on-future-i-194-layout/

LilianaUwU

QuoteHe explained that it would be eerily similar to US-131 in the Schoolcraft area.
Boulevards on Interstate right of ways are scary.
"Volcano with no fire... Not volcano... Just mountain."
—Mr. Thwomp

My pronouns are she/her. Also, I'm an admin on the AARoads Wiki.

The Ghostbuster

I'm glad the boulevard option was not chosen. Maintaining the freeway spur is likely the better option (I personally dislike freeway-to-boulevard conversions).

mgk920

I kind of agree.  The I-375 freeway was never really intended to go anywhere other than as a feed into downtown Detroit streets and was at the end of its economic life, having been built 60 or so years ago.  It was time to explore up to date new solutions to it.

Mike

wanderer2575

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 02, 2025, 11:15:37 PMI'm glad the boulevard option was not chosen. Maintaining the freeway spur is likely the better option (I personally dislike freeway-to-boulevard conversions).

I too prefer that the freeway remain, but nothing has yet been chosen.  This is just a resolution stating the city's preference.

michiganguy123

Quote from: mgk920 on February 03, 2025, 11:28:19 AMI kind of agree.  The I-375 freeway was never really intended to go anywhere other than as a feed into downtown Detroit streets and was at the end of its economic life, having been built 60 or so years ago.  It was time to explore up to date new solutions to it.

Mike

Either keep it as is or make it a 2 lane road to save money. No in between. A stroad is never safer than a freeway

rhen_var

I hope they keep it.  Those weird little mini-freeways from the 50s and 60s that are all over Michigan have a special place in my heart, and they keep removing them.

Flint1979

Quote from: mgk920 on February 03, 2025, 11:28:19 AMI kind of agree.  The I-375 freeway was never really intended to go anywhere other than as a feed into downtown Detroit streets and was at the end of its economic life, having been built 60 or so years ago.  It was time to explore up to date new solutions to it.

Mike
I-375 is just a stub of what they abandoned while building I-75. I-75 was supposed to be closer to the river than it is and I-375 was part of that freeway so they just left it alone and built I-75 where they did.

The Ghostbuster

That is true. Could you imagine what the riverfront would be like today if Interstate 75 had been built completely alongside it?

Flint1979

The bridge situation in Bay City is an absolute mess. They are now charging double for the transponders $30 and will be discontinuing the program in July. If you have anything to do in Bay City avoid the independence and Liberty Bridges at all costs.

TheCatalyst31

Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2025, 07:59:27 AMThe bridge situation in Bay City is an absolute mess. They are now charging double for the transponders $30 and will be discontinuing the program in July. If you have anything to do in Bay City avoid the independence and Liberty Bridges at all costs.
Surely that will make it profitable to run expensive local toll bridges right next to a free state highway bridge.

Great Lakes Roads

Quote from: TheCatalyst31 on February 07, 2025, 02:44:22 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2025, 07:59:27 AMThe bridge situation in Bay City is an absolute mess. They are now charging double for the transponders $30 and will be discontinuing the program in July. If you have anything to do in Bay City avoid the independence and Liberty Bridges at all costs.
Surely that will make it profitable to run expensive local toll bridges right next to a free state highway bridge.
This came from their Facebook post:

Our recent announcement pertaining to the Non-Resident Monthly Subscription program has generated a few customer misunderstandings which this communication intends to clarify.

1.  The City of Bay City Resident discount has NOT CHANGED and those who qualify are, and will continue, to receive the appropriate discount with a valid BC-PASS account and properly installed transponder.

2.  The City of Bay City Resident discount is NOT BEING DISCONTINUED in July 2025.  Those who qualify, and continue to comply with the discount requirements, will remain on the discount for the appropriate 5-year period.

3.  Toll Rates have NOT CHANGED.  Rates with a valid and funded BC-PASS or E-ZPass account are:
•          Class 1 = $2.00 per crossing
•          Class 2 = $4.00 per crossing 
•          Class 3 = $8.00 per crossing
•          Pay-by-Mail Surcharge = $3.50 (without a valid BC-PASS/E-ZPass account)

4.  The rate-increase to $30/month only applies to Non-Bay City Residents who are enrolled in the unlimited monthly subscription plan. This plan will be discontinued in July 2025.

5.  There is NO FEE for cancelling a monthly subscription.  If a subscription is cancelled, any prepaid funds on the BC-PASS account can be used to pay for future trips on both Liberty and Independence.
 
IMPORTANT: A new transponder is NOT REQUIRED if a monthly subscription is cancelled. The existing transponder(s) can be used to pay per trip.

We encourage everyone, who has not done so already, to open a BC-PASS account and save money per trip. 
Bay City Residents = Class 1 trips are FREE with your BC-PASS Transponder!
Non-Residents = you save $3.50 per trip with a valid BC-PASS account!

Visit our website and FAQs for more information www.baycitybridgepartners.com
-Jay Seaburg

Great Lakes Roads


The Woodland Loop in downtown Pontiac will be converted from one-way to two-way...
-Jay Seaburg

Flint1979

Quote from: TheCatalyst31 on February 07, 2025, 02:44:22 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2025, 07:59:27 AMThe bridge situation in Bay City is an absolute mess. They are now charging double for the transponders $30 and will be discontinuing the program in July. If you have anything to do in Bay City avoid the independence and Liberty Bridges at all costs.
Surely that will make it profitable to run expensive local toll bridges right next to a free state highway bridge.
I cross the river in Bay City quite often and always use the Vet's bridge, I refuse to use the Liberty or Independence. I hope the Bay City residents that are able to cross those two bridges for free right now use the hell out of the two bridges and make them lose money. It doesn't help that the Lafayette Bridge is closed for two more years.

JREwing78

Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on February 07, 2025, 04:35:57 AM

The Woodland Loop in downtown Pontiac will be converted from one-way to two-way...

It'll be less convenient for Woodward Dream Cruise, obviously. Otherwise, it makes sense. The traffic demands that drove the creation of the Loop are no longer there, and this reconfiguration will make it simpler to navigate downtown Pontiac.

afguy

Whitmer: Tax businesses, marijuana as part of $3B road-funding plan
QuoteShe called for $500 million in unspecified spending cuts and embraced a Republican leader's desire to remove the 6% sales tax on fuel and replace it with a corresponding boost to per-gallon gasoline and diesel taxes to ensure that all taxes at the pump go to road maintenance. Schools and local governments that receive sales tax revenue would be protected from funding reductions.

A linchpin of the proposal, which was not fleshed out, is $1.7 billion in new taxes so "massive corporations and Big Tech industries ... pay their fair share to do business in Michigan and use Michigan roadways," the Democratic governor's office said in a news release. Several sources inside and outside the administration had told Crain's that Whitmer was floating a hike to the 6% corporate income tax in recent days. The proposal stops short of saying how much it should go up. Her office indicated a CIT increase is part of the mix but its size could fluctuate depending on other revenue components and how Republican House Speaker Matt Hall and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks react.

Other options include potential taxes on heavy trucks and digital advertising services. Whitmer's release specifically mentions Amazon, X, Facebook and TikTok, saying they "haul heavy weights using semi-trucks that deteriorate roads and bridges faster than commuter vehicles" or "bombard Michiganders with nuisance pop up advertisements that inconvenience consumers."

Also on the table are higher internet gambling taxes and possibly taxes on transportation services — ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, for instance — or deliveries, according to sources.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics-policy/whitmer-tax-businesses-marijuana-fund-roads

GaryV

Quote from: afguy on February 10, 2025, 05:43:14 PM$1.7 billion in new taxes so "massive corporations and Big Tech industries ... pay their fair share to do business in Michigan and use Michigan roadways

Because businesses don't pay fuel taxes when they fill up their vehicles?

If they really wanted to help out the roadways, lower that insane highway weight limit.


JREwing78

Quote from: GaryV on February 10, 2025, 06:20:30 PMIf they really wanted to help out the roadways, lower that insane highway weight limit.


Why? The per-axle limit is the same, so the damage done with one 160,000 lb truck is the same as 2 80,000 lb trucks 

Also, they can haul more freight with one 160,000 lb truck than 2 80,000 lb trucks.

It ultimately leads to fewer heavy trucks on the roadway causing damage.


wanderer2575

MDOT is letting a contract (#18033-210354, item 001 on 03/07/2025) for sign replacement along US-127 in Clare County.  The plans show some "WTF?!" with signing of business routes by someone who apparently thinks the exit signs on both sides of the freeway must always show the same.

Northbound US-127 at M-61 south of Harrison.  This is the start of the northbound business route but that is being removed from the exit signs although it will remain signed on the ramp.


Next exit northbound at Old US-27 Clare Avenue.  This is the end of the northbound business route, four miles past Harrison, but this is where said route will be signed.  Say again?  Even more stupid, there will be no signing for the route on the ramp.


The same sign will be on the southbound side, adding the road name but removing the control city.  A business route exit not showing the locality it serves?  I could see that if there were going to be a supplemental "Harrison / Next 2 Exits" sign, but there there won't be.

Southbound at M-61.  This is the end of the southbound business route, correctly not signed here, but Harrison is being added as a control (to match the northbound sign, I guess) even though again we're past that city.  It should remain signed as a control at exit 176, as it is now.


And the last winner:  Southbound at Old US-27 Clare Avenue.  This is the start of the southbound US-127 and eastbound US-10 business routes but they are being removed from the exit signs (again, I'm guessing to match the new northbound sign) although they will remain signed on the ramp.


I should e-mail MDOT and ask them to forward an inquiry to the Bay Region engineer.  I would love to hear the explanation.

afguy

MDOT is hosting public open house meetings on the 26th and 27th to discuss the proposed removal of the Fullerton St Bridge over I-96 and rebuilding the Hubbell Street bridge over I-96 with pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2025/02/14/mdot-public-open-houses-feb-26-27-on-proposed-fullerton-avenue-bridge-removal-project

74/171FAN

Some other news in the process:

M-14/I-96 rebuilding project in Wayne County begins Friday, Feb. 28 (I guess I am glad I clinched I-275 and I-96 last year.)

QuoteThe I-275 ramps to eastbound I-96 will be closed for approximately two months, while the other ramps will be closed through the end of 2025. Westbound traffic will have two lanes open and all westbound exit ramps will remain open, except the northbound I-275 ramp to westbound M-14 that will be closed for the year.

M-55 bridge replacement in Iosco County starts March 3
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