Hi, I am new to the group, and I live in Michigan.

Anyway, I had heard that, although the final section of US-31 from
Napier to I-94 will now intersect I-94 near the business loop
(primarily due to the butterflies), that there would be auxiliary
lanes between the interchanges that would carry US-31 traffic from the
new section to the existing section of US-31/I-196 without having to
merge with I-94. This is supported by the MDOT website regarding the
project from last June, which states, "The alignment also includes
important auxiliary lanes on I-94 between the two freeway-to-freeway
interchanges so that US-31 to I-196 traffic does not have to merge
with I-94."

Also, I have heard that MDOT was using some of the right-of-way that
they had obtained for the original alignment as a trade in some cases
while obtaining the right-of-way that they now need for the current
preferred alignment, and that much of the right-of-way that was
originally purchaced either has been or will be turned over to the DNR
as a sanctuary for the butterflies. I am not sure that what I have
heard is true, but if it is, then the possiblility of a direct
connection is most likely completely dead.

-PATRICK


--- In greatlakesroads@yahoogroups.com, "Marc Fannin" <musxf579@h...>
wrote:
>
> --- "Barry L. Camp" <blcamp@y...> wrote:
>
> > --- "A.J." <a7bertin@y...> wrote:
> >
> > > I took another business trip from Grand Rapids to Indianapolis
> and
> > > had the "pleasure" of driving along U.S. 31. That freeway is
> SOOO
> > > boring! There are no gas stations, no restaurants, no hotels, or
> > > anything else at any of the exits from Napier Ave. all the way
> down
> > > to U.S. 12.
>
> It's interesting to me, of course, since I grew up waiting for it to
> be built, so now that it is, it's a marvel. (A connection from
> Indiana to I-94 in full has been planned for over 40 years, longer
> than I've been alive!) But, yes, physically there's not much
> immediately nearby - sort of cancels out the "Parkway" part of the
> name, doesn't it?
>
> > Actually, there's a lot of services available just off Exit 15
> > (M-139/Old 31 - Berrien Springs), but they are not "advertised"
> very
> > well at all. Why there aren't the blue logo service signs posted
> there
> > is beyond me.
>
> They're just catching up since the freeway to the north of there
> just opened just a year-and-a-half ago...?
>
> > > Another point...I know the topic of the U.S. 31 extension from
> Napier
> > > Ave. up to I-94 and I-196 has been discussed. Could someone
> please
> > > fill me in again on why it was never done? Will it ever be done?
>
> Eventually....
>
> It
> > > looks so tacky when you're driving along northbound U.S. 31 and
> > > approach Exit 24. The left lane just closes and you're forced
> off the
> > > freeway.
>
> Oh, yeah, you're relatively young, so you don't remember a lot of
> freeways formerly doing that until they were eventually
> extended. :) I remember PA-60 doing that from the south at PA-51
> between Pittsburgh and Youngstown (it was one of the more memorable
> things on that frequent trip to PA growing up), and, in fact, US-31
> where you were did that at two of the three temporary endings (US-12
> from 1979 to 1987 and Old US-31 c. 1998 to 2003 - read through
> http://www.roadfan.com/michrdph.html#sjvp if you want more
> details :) ). I'd actually rather have that, with the completed
> but partially-unused interchange, than a disruption when the highway
> is completed to certain point and then again for interchange
> creation when the highway is extended (as happened at US-31's
> temporary ending at Old US-31 - from 1992 to c. 1998 it was just an
> at-grade intersection).
>
> > > Yet, the "freeway" continues into nothingness.
>
> Actually it continues to a line of trees 0.2 miles north of Napier
> and then stops dead.
>
> http://www.roadfan.com/temp2/31pvend.jpg
>
> ;)
>
> > > Plus, there's
> > > no evidence at the I-94 interchange with I-196/US-31 that any
> > > construction was ever happening.
>
> There never was any. Any map that shows Napier-to-I-196 as under
> construction is wrong.
>
> > That's because it won't be built there. It will curve and tie into
> Exit
> > 33, BL I-94. It was rerouted to cut costs, protect butterflies and
> > swampland, and confuse anyone needing to stay on US-31. (I think
> the
> > routing is retarded, but what do I know... I'm just a stupid
> > taxpayer.)
>
> Now, don't get ahead of yourself...it PROBABLY won't be built there,
> because MDOT's preferred alignment is the one with the westward
> bend, but construction hasn't started yet, so it could revert to the
> direct routing before dirt is turned, right? :) (Actually, dirt
> has already been turned as the houses on Territorial Road along the
> path of the direct alignment were torn down oevr 10 years ago).
>
> A.J., if you want to follow the progress of this highway segment,
> keep checking MDOT's page on it:
>
> http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9621_11058_22860---,00.html
> "US-31 Connection to I-94/Napier Ave to I-94"
>
> :)
>
> > > Will we have to look at that "freeway into nothingness" forever?
> >
> > Nah... just another 7-10 years.
>
> A fairly recent newspaper article stated 2014 as an early target.
>
> Marc