Detroit Free Press Matt Helms Column: Take East-West Roads, Avoid I-696 Closure at Van Dyke
By Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press
Jun. 29–An east-side stretch of I-696 will be the freeway to avoid this weekend.
The expressway will close in both directions at Van Dyke in Warren so workers can demolish part of a turnaround bridge just east of Van Dyke. The state is widening that overpass as part of a project to reduce wrecks at the crash-prone intersection of the eastbound I-696 service drive and Van Dyke.
The shutdown will run from 8 tonight to 5 a.m. Monday at the latest. Traffic in both directions will be forced off the freeway using exit and entrance ramps. Take nearby east-west roads to avoid jams.
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi said drivers should expect several similar shutdowns spread out during the summer, but contractors will limit them.
Meanwhile, the northbound Southfield Freeway will shut down over Northwestern Highway in Southfield for bridge work from 9 tonight to 5 a.m. Monday. Traffic will be forced off the Southfield at 8 Mile. The detour will take westbound 8 Mile, northbound Telegraph and eastbound I-696.
Here’s what else will slow down your weekend travels:
–Northbound I-275 will see multiple lane shutdowns for joint sealing between 5 Mile and 8 Mile roads in Livonia, with ramps from westbound I-96 and eastbound M-14 reduced to one lane each. The left three northbound lanes of I-275 will close from 8 tonight to 7 a.m. Saturday; 8 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday, and 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.
–The southbound Lodge Freeway in Detroit will be down to one lane between the Davison Freeway and Jefferson from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. The northbound side will lose two lanes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Crews are doing wrap-up work.
–M-59 will lose two lanes each way between Telegraph and Woodward in Pontiac from 7 tonight to 6 a.m. Monday for ongoing resurfacing.
–M-59 will be reduced by one lane between Romeo Plank and Hayes roads from 8 tonight to 3 p.m. Monday for pavement repair.
–Hines Drive will close between Glendale and Woodbine in Dearborn Heights from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday so the northbound Telegraph bridge over Hines can be demolished.
At least we’re not New Jersey
Another study has found Michigan’s roads among the nation’s worst.
The Reason Foundation’s annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems ranked Michigan 42nd among the states — a drop from 39th place in 2004. The ranking used 2005 information that states reported to the federal government, and it’s based on factors including road and bridge conditions, fatality rates and funding levels.
We’ve got good company — and at least we’re not the worst. New Jersey ranked last in the study, preceded in order by Alaska, New York, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Massachusetts, California and Alabama. Florida and Delaware round out the bottom 10. The five best are North Dakota, South Carolina, Kansas, New Mexico and Montana, Reason found.
Michigan fared well in one category: The state’s death rate per hundred million vehicle miles traveled ranked eighth nationwide at 1.085. The national average is 1.453.
But we rank poorly in other categories. The percentage of the state’s urban interstate miles considered in poor condition was 12.78%, or 42nd nationally. For rural interstates, the percentage in poor shape was 7.72%, or 46th.
When it comes to urban freeway congestion, we placed 36th at 52.52%. But the state ranked in the bottom 10 in funding. For more, go to www.reason.org/ps360.
Contact MATT HELMS at driving@freepress.com or 313-222-1450.
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