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[JREwing78]

This YouTube channel has documented the work north of Midland to restore the area (including bridges, dams, and lakes) following the flooding in May 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/c/JordanMowbray

[roadwaywiz95]

For this upcoming weekend's Webinar presentation, we'll be taking a look at the important freeways and interstates across northern & western Michigan, including the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, and Lansing metropolitan areas. Coverage will begin on Saturday (1/23) at 6 PM ET and will feature live contributions from members of this forum; we hope to see you there!

[cabiness42]

196 is a lot longer than either 496 or 675.

[The Ghostbuster]

As you all know, the Muskegon-to-Grand Rapids route was originally part of Interstate 196, with 96 heading west and south from Grand Rapids-via-Holland to meet Interstate 94. 96 and 196 were swapped in the 1960's. I think that 196, at 80.594 miles in length, is too long for a 3-digit Interstate Highway, especially one that has an odd first digit. Maybe 196 should have been designated Interstate 67, as was requested by then-Michigan state highway commissioner (and AASHO president) John C. Mackie in 1963: http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys180-199.html#I-196.

[rawmustard]

As you all know, the Muskegon-to-Grand Rapids route was originally part of Interstate 196, with 96 heading west and south from Grand Rapids-via-Holland to meet Interstate 94. 96 and 196 were swapped in the 1960's. I think that 196, at 80.594 miles in length, is too long for a 3-digit Interstate Highway, especially one that has an odd first digit. Maybe 196 should have been designated Interstate 67, as was requested by then-Michigan state highway commissioner (and AASHO president) John C. Mackie in 1963: http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys180-199.html#I-196.

What would you suggest the maximum length of a three-digit Insterstate be? There's no way anyone would suggest a loop greater than 80 miles (such as Cincinnati's I-275) get a two-digit number.

[mgk920]

As you all know, the Muskegon-to-Grand Rapids route was originally part of Interstate 196, with 96 heading west and south from Grand Rapids-via-Holland to meet Interstate 94. 96 and 196 were swapped in the 1960's. I think that 196, at 80.594 miles in length, is too long for a 3-digit Interstate Highway, especially one that has an odd first digit. Maybe 196 should have been designated Interstate 67, as was requested by then-Michigan state highway commissioner (and AASHO president) John C. Mackie in 1963: http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys180-199.html#I-196.

What would you suggest the maximum length of a three-digit Insterstate be? There's no way anyone would suggest a loop greater than 80 miles (such as Cincinnati's I-275) get a two-digit number.

Kind of like the A10 autobahn in Germany?

Mike

[TheHighwayMan394]

What about 476 PA, 380 IA, etc.?

[Flint1979]

Since when is there a limit on how long a 3-di can be?

[afguy]

A DDI interchange is coming to 8 Mile/Telegraph Rd interchange in Detroit...

One of the biggest projects slated for 2021 will be the reconstruction of the 50-year of Telegraph and 8 Mile interchange. There are plans to make the interchange into a safer diverging diamond.There are also plans for reconstruction of Telegraph from Grand River Avenue to just north of 8 Mile Road.“We are going to pull everything out, go down to the sand, and rebuild Telegraph from Grand River to 8 Mile,” said Diane Cross with the Michigan Department of Transportation.Cross says Telegraph will have two lanes open at all times during the construction period, however the construction will close down ramps.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/mdot-planning-busy-2021-construction-season

[Flint1979]

A DDI interchange is coming to 8 Mile/Telegraph Rd interchange in Detroit...

One of the biggest projects slated for 2021 will be the reconstruction of the 50-year of Telegraph and 8 Mile interchange. There are plans to make the interchange into a safer diverging diamond.There are also plans for reconstruction of Telegraph from Grand River Avenue to just north of 8 Mile Road.“We are going to pull everything out, go down to the sand, and rebuild Telegraph from Grand River to 8 Mile,” said Diane Cross with the Michigan Department of Transportation.Cross says Telegraph will have two lanes open at all times during the construction period, however the construction will close down ramps.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/mdot-planning-busy-2021-construction-season

Get ready for massive traffic jams on the Southfield Freeway.

[wanderer2575]

A DDI interchange is coming to 8 Mile/Telegraph Rd interchange in Detroit...

One of the biggest projects slated for 2021 will be the reconstruction of the 50-year of Telegraph and 8 Mile interchange. There are plans to make the interchange into a safer diverging diamond.There are also plans for reconstruction of Telegraph from Grand River Avenue to just north of 8 Mile Road.“We are going to pull everything out, go down to the sand, and rebuild Telegraph from Grand River to 8 Mile,” said Diane Cross with the Michigan Department of Transportation.Cross says Telegraph will have two lanes open at all times during the construction period, however the construction will close down ramps.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/mdot-planning-busy-2021-construction-season

That's interesting, because MDOT's Five-Year 2021-2025 plan shows only "healer sealer" maintenance is scheduled for this year on the 8 Mile Road bridges over Telegraph Road, while this story indicates removal of the bridges and construction of a DDI.  Can't say I'm thrilled about another set of traffic signals in one of the corridors, but I agree the current mutated cloverleaf needs to go.  Can't wait to see which road will have the exit ramps with no traffic signals.

Other upcoming metro Detroit freeway projects noted in the story:

• Reconstruction of I-275 from south of I-94 to north of 5 Mile Road.  This has been needed for years; the road has had asphalt resurfacing but there are many killer potholes from the failing original concrete underneath.  I can't believe this all can be done in one year.  Work between Ford Road (M-153) and 5 Mile was scheduled for 2020 per previous Five-Year plans but that didn't happen.  Work between I-94 and Ford Road was previously scheduled for two years later but maybe that is being accelerated.
• Reconstruction of I-696 between I-275 and Orchard Lake Road.  The Five-Year plan says it's a longer stretch, between I-275 and Lahser Road, so we'll see.  Previous Five-Year plans had this scheduled for 2023; apparently it's been accelerated.  Reconstruction of of I-696 between Lahser Road and Dequindre Road now shows scheduled for 2023.
• Reconstruction of I-96 between I-275 and east of Kent Lake Road.  I think this will be the Big One with regards to traffic jams.  MDOT announced plans a few years ago to implement a part-time flex-lane system along this stretch, similar to what's on US-23 north of Ann Arbor.  I think this also has been accelerated; it originally wasn't scheduled to happen for at least a few more years.  I was hoping that with this project now being funded with Rebuilding Michigan bond funds it would be expanded to add a permanent fourth lane in each direction, but apparently that isn't happening and the flex-lane system is still on tap.

The new Five-Year plan shows reconstruction of M-14 between Newburgh and Sheldon roads has been pushed back to 2023.  This received asphalt resurfacing a few years ago, which immediately started falling apart because of the failing concrete underneath.

[Papa Emeritus]

A DDI interchange is coming to 8 Mile/Telegraph Rd interchange in Detroit...

One of the biggest projects slated for 2021 will be the reconstruction of the 50-year of Telegraph and 8 Mile interchange. There are plans to make the interchange into a safer diverging diamond.There are also plans for reconstruction of Telegraph from Grand River Avenue to just north of 8 Mile Road.“We are going to pull everything out, go down to the sand, and rebuild Telegraph from Grand River to 8 Mile,” said Diane Cross with the Michigan Department of Transportation.Cross says Telegraph will have two lanes open at all times during the construction period, however the construction will close down ramps.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/mdot-planning-busy-2021-construction-season

That's interesting, because MDOT's Five-Year 2021-2025 plan shows only "healer sealer" maintenance is scheduled for this year on the 8 Mile Road bridges over Telegraph Road, while this story indicates removal of the bridges and construction of a DDI.  Can't say I'm thrilled about another set of traffic signals in one of the corridors, but I agree the current mutated cloverleaf needs to go.  Can't wait to see which road will have the exit ramps with no traffic signals.

Other upcoming metro Detroit freeway projects noted in the story:

• Reconstruction of I-275 from south of I-94 to north of 5 Mile Road.  This has been needed for years; the road has had asphalt resurfacing but there are many killer potholes from the failing original concrete underneath.  I can't believe this all can be done in one year.  Work between Ford Road (M-153) and 5 Mile was scheduled for 2020 per previous Five-Year plans but that didn't happen.  Work between I-94 and Ford Road was previously scheduled for two years later but maybe that is being accelerated.
• Reconstruction of I-696 between I-275 and Orchard Lake Road.  The Five-Year plan says it's a longer stretch, between I-275 and Lahser Road, so we'll see.  Previous Five-Year plans had this scheduled for 2023; apparently it's been accelerated.  Reconstruction of of I-696 between Lahser Road and Dequindre Road now shows scheduled for 2023.
• Reconstruction of I-96 between I-275 and east of Kent Lake Road.  I think this will be the Big One with regards to traffic jams.  MDOT announced plans a few years ago to implement a part-time flex-lane system along this stretch, similar to what's on US-23 north of Ann Arbor.  I think this also has been accelerated; it originally wasn't scheduled to happen for at least a few more years.  I was hoping that with this project now being funded with Rebuilding Michigan bond funds it would be expanded to add a permanent fourth lane in each direction, but apparently that isn't happening and the flex-lane system is still on tap.

The new Five-Year plan shows reconstruction of M-14 between Newburgh and Sheldon roads has been pushed back to 2023.  This received asphalt resurfacing a few years ago, which immediately started falling apart because of the failing concrete underneath.

The three best ways to get between Metro Airport and Birmingham / Bloomfield Hills are I 94 to Telegraph, or I-94 to the Southfield, or  I-275 to I-696 to Telegraph / Lahser / Evergreen.

With two of these three routes affected by construction, and many of the people who would have taken Telegraph choosing the Southfield, it's going to be tough getting to / from the airport if you live in the northwest suburbs.

[Ryctor2018]

https://www.wlen.com/2021/01/20/virtual-public-meeting-scheduled-for-us-127-us-223-project/

This is from earlier in the month, but I wanted to add this here as well. I cross-posted this to the I-73 thread. US-127 and US-223 are being repaired/rebuilt. The major item from the article: The US-127/US-223 project involves rebuilding approximately 3.9 miles of US-127 from the north village limit of Addison north to US-12 and rebuilding approximately 11.1 miles of US-223 from US-127 southeast to Stoddard Road in Lenawee County. The proposed work will include building a roundabout at the US-127/US-223 intersection, drainage improvements, geometric upgrades, and signal modernization. 

[Flint1979]

https://www.wlen.com/2021/01/20/virtual-public-meeting-scheduled-for-us-127-us-223-project/

This is from earlier in the month, but I wanted to add this here as well. I cross-posted this to the I-73 thread. US-127 and US-223 are being repaired/rebuilt. The major item from the article: The US-127/US-223 project involves rebuilding approximately 3.9 miles of US-127 from the north village limit of Addison north to US-12 and rebuilding approximately 11.1 miles of US-223 from US-127 southeast to Stoddard Road in Lenawee County. The proposed work will include building a roundabout at the US-127/US-223 intersection, drainage improvements, geometric upgrades, and signal modernization.

That'll fix US-223 and US-127 acting as one highway there.