[Fresh Photos of the Posters!]
On the evening of November 9, 2016, at the Whitmore Lake High School, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) hosted a public meeting to provide information about upcoming construction on US-23 between M-14 and Silver Lake Road. This was a poster session with no formal presentation. Renderings of the final designs of interchanges, landscaping, and FlexRoute Messaging were shown on easels in the Whitmore Lake High School lobby. MDOT staff engineers and Brighton Area Regional Director Mark Sweeney answered questions.
Jack Rick, of the University Region MDOT, explaining the 8 Mile Road interchange.
(Higher resolution photo of Jack Rick explaining the 8 Mile Road interchange)
Overview of the FlexRoute (Higher Resolution MDOT US-23 FlexRoute Overview - 110KB)
8 Mile Road Interchange (High Resolution image of the 8 Mile Road Interchange - 729KB)
8 Mile Road Bridge by night (High Resolution image of the 8 Mile Road Bridge by night - 600KB)
Daytime view of the 8 Mile Road Bridge (High Resolution image of the 8 Mile Road Bridge by day - 790KB)
Mark Sweeney, MDOT Brighton Area Regional Director
The old 8 Mile Road Bridge will remain in place while the new one is constructed to its north.
(Higher resolution drawing of Detours from 8 Mile Rod to M-36 (780KB))
Detour: Barker to 8 Mile Road (Higher Resolution Image of Barker - 8 Mile Road Detour - 780KB)
Detours: North Territorial to Six Mile Road (Higher Resolution Image of N.Territorial - 6 Mile Road detour - 780KB)
The Eastbound lane of the Territorial Road bridge will remain open.
Territorial Road Interchange and Roundabouts (High Resolution rendering of Territorial Road work - 800KB)
Territorial Road Interchange Aesthetics (Hi Resolution image of Territorial Road Interchange Aesthetics - 840KB)
Territorial Road Overpass, Northbound View (High Resolution Image of Territorial Overpass)
(Yes, that is a very vintage Volkswagon van)
Territorial Overpass Center Pier (High Resolution detail of Territorial Overpass Center Pier)
Territorial Road Overpass, Birdseye view from Southwest (High Resolution: Territorial Road Overpass, Southwest Birdseye view)
Warren Road Overpass Aesthetics (High Resolution image of Warren Road Aesthetics)
Barker Road Bridge Aesthetics (High Resolution image of the Barker Road Bridge Aesthetic details)
Along the northwest shores of Whitmore Lake is the only stretch of US-23 that will have a Noise Barrier. The red line shows its approximate location.
According to MDOT Engineers, a drain across the path of the barrier may interfere with its construction. The final barrier may end up being shorter than shown above.
(Hi Resolution aerial view of the US-23 Whitmore Lake Noise Barrier - 800KB)
Flexroute Sign announcing an "Incident Ahead"
(Hi Resolution image of the US-23 Flexroute Sign announcing an "Incident Ahead" - 800KB)
The MDOT US-23 FlexRoute Project webpage
MLive: Ann Arbor U.S. 23 'Flex Route' cost-effective fix to traffic jams, MDOT says, Lindsay Knake, November 10, 2016
"While it's the first active traffic management system in the state, there are similar systems in Illinois, Washington and West Virginia, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration."
Livingston Daily: U.S. 23 construction of Flex Route starting Monday, Jennifer Eberbach, November 3, 2016
Residents in Livingston and Washtenaw counties have been invited to learn about upcoming improvements to U.S. 23 between Brighton and Ann Arbor, a congested and aging stretch of one of Michigan's most heavily traveled freeways.
A public meeting with Michigan Department of Transportation officials will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Whitmore Lake High School, 7430 Whitmore Lake Road.
The estimated cost is about $92 million.
Livingston Daily: Three roundabouts coming to Eight Mile, Jennifer Eberbach, October 13, 2016
Mike Goryl, a traffic engineer for the Livingston County Road Commission, said they would "be like (three) Chilson and Coon Lake roundabouts side by side," which will be "simple, single-lane roundabouts."
"You should not have the same issues" that motorists have at Lee Road, Goryl said.
8 Mile Road Interchange Plans. The current bridge will remain in place during construction.
Livingston Daily: MDOT officials discuss US 23 revamp, Jennifer Eberbach, October 3, 2016
This FlexRoute system, along with bridge, ramp and road work is expected to cost around $120 million.
"You don't have to put a permanent third lane out there," MDOT University Region Engineer Paul Ajegba said.
"You have a peak-hour congestion problem in the morning and in the evening in each direction. This solves that problem and it's less expensive," Ajegba said.
Livingston Daily: Slew of US 23 projects to revamp congested corridor, Jennifer Eberbach, September 28, 2016
The U.S. 23 corridor project will involve replacing bridges, widening bridges and installing a new "Flex Route" traffic-management system with electronic signage along the freeway in Washtenaw and Livingston counties. The complex, multifaceted project will also include bridge repairs, upgrades to ramps and medians, and pavement repairs.
Livingston Daily: Lee Road roundabout redo considered, Jennifer Eberbach, June 10, 2016
When the roundabouts were built, it was assumed that traffic volume would increase over time. The Michigan Department of Transportation built the one in question in 2006 with the involvement of the nearby Green Oaks Village Place mall.
They were designed to handle 2030 traffic volumes.
However, in 10 years, the number of vehicles that use hasn't really changed.
2010 aerial image of the 3 lane roundabout at Lee and Whitmore - Livingston County Road Commission
Livingston County Road Commission Concept: Changes to Whitmore Lake Road at Lee Road Roundabout