I-94 and the Lodge

**Gsgeorge** · April-28-09, 06:16 PM

Can someone PLEASE explain to me why the Lodge South/I-94 E, Lodge North /I-94 W ramps are closed? They have been like this for nearly a year and I never see work going on there. In fact, there is a little space between the barriers and I see cop cars sneaking through every once-in-a-while. Apparently the ramps are driveable and from what I've been able to see down into them they look clean & normal. What's the deal here?

**bike4beer** · April-28-09, 06:24 PM

Thank you Thank you Thank you for posting this question. It has been driving me nuts.

**catch22** · April-28-09, 06:34 PM

I seem to remember that these ramps were closed at the same time that I-75 closed near the Ambassador Bridge. About the only reason [[excuse?) I can think of is that detour traffic from that project would swamp these ramps. One of the documents on MDOT's I-75 project page lists potential detours and shows those two ramps as closed.

Project site: http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,...614---,00.html

Detour map:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/md...s_267486_7.pdf

**bike4beer** · April-28-09, 06:37 PM

Yeah. I could see that. Especially with those left lane entrance ramps onto 94. Those can get pretty hairy at times.

**Jimaz** · April-28-09, 06:48 PM

It will be closed until December according to this [[under the M-10 section),

Ramp Closure - Map - Mon 4/14/08, 12 AM to Tue 12/1/09, 12 AM
Southbound M-10 to eastbound I-94
Details: Ramp from southbound M-10 to eastbound I-94 is closed until December 2009.
Detour: The traffic is detoured in advance to eastbound M-8 to southbound I-75 to eastbound I-94. Motorists also may take southbound M-10 to northbound I-75 to eastbound I-94.
Alternate route advised
Contact: Detroit TSC 313-965-6350
Wayne County
Expires in 217 days. Last updated: 11/26/08 8:32 AM

**Hamtragedy** · April-28-09, 10:50 PM

Next time you're sitting in normal 10 MPH traffic on Westbound Edsel Ford [[94), I dare you to glance up, to the left, at the EB exit ramp to the NB Lodge. Several steel footings which rest on the reinforced concrete piers are broken, and by that, I mean sideways, and resting on the pier, 15 feet above the entrance ramp from the NB Lodge. You will think twice about taking the NB Lodge to WB Ford exit, at least until they rebuild the entire structure.

**Fury13** · April-28-09, 10:56 PM

Amazing that it always takes such an excruciatingly long time to get any road construction finished in metro Detroit.

**professorscott** · April-28-09, 11:46 PM

There is no work going on at the Lodge-94 ramps, nor has there been. The reason those ramps are closed is that I-94 is getting heavier traffic because of the Gateway project; left on-ramps cause extra congestion so MDOT has closed those ramps for the duration of the project.

Somewhere in MDOT web-site land, they have the explanation for all of this, but I don't feel like digging around for it right now. Anyhow, that's the story.

**Bong-Man** · April-29-09, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Fury13

Amazing that it always takes such an excruciatingly long time to get any road construction finished in metro Detroit.

Unless it involves casino access....then watch the dust fly.

**Gistok** · April-29-09, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by professorscott

There is no work going on at the Lodge-94 ramps, nor has there been. The reason those ramps are closed is that I-94 is getting heavier traffic because of the Gateway project; left on-ramps cause extra congestion so MDOT has closed those ramps for the duration of the project.

So what do people do? They get off the NB Lodge at Milwaukee/W. Grand Blvd., take the loop around to the other side of the freeway, and go SB Lodge to WB I-94.

Not sure how many other people take that way, but it works for me...

**bike4beer** · April-29-09, 03:22 PM

That was the way I had been going but now I exit off the Lodge at 75 South to 96 to 94 West.

**313WX** · April-29-09, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by catch22

I seem to remember that these ramps were closed at the same time that I-75 closed near the Ambassador Bridge. About the only reason [[excuse?) I can think of is that detour traffic from that project would swamp these ramps. One of the documents on MDOT's I-75 project page lists potential detours and shows those two ramps as closed.

Project site: http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,...614---,00.html

Detour map:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/md...s_267486_7.pdf

That's exactly what I remember hearing...

**Ray1936** · April-29-09, 05:48 PM

I hate going through construction zones when there is no work going on. Candyassed workers can't go 24/7, I guess.

**jackie5275** · April-29-09, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by professorscott

There is no work going on at the Lodge-94 ramps, nor has there been. The reason those ramps are closed is that I-94 is getting heavier traffic because of the Gateway project; left on-ramps cause extra congestion so MDOT has closed those ramps for the duration of the project.

Somewhere in MDOT web-site land, they have the explanation for all of this, but I don't feel like digging around for it right now. Anyhow, that's the story.

I remember reading either it was on the MDOT website or one of the commuting columns in one of the dailies that the bridges over these ramps were in bad shape & extra traffic from the Gateway project was going to jeopardize the safety of people using these ramps. Although they do have the ramps open occassionally for events such as the Final 4.

**Andrew in Windsor** · May-03-09, 08:40 AM

I usually take NB Lodge to EB 94, and loop around at John R [[?) to WB 94.

**Gistok** · May-03-09, 10:36 AM

OK, I can understand some ramps closed for the Gateway Project... but why M-10 South to I-94 East??

**RO_Resident** · May-03-09, 02:55 PM

The Lodge north to I-94 west ramp is a pretty funky design, as you are leaving a left lane and entering on another left lane. The sight lines are pretty short, so the ramp traffic slows considerably before entering I-94.

When the detour plan was put together for the Gateway Project, traffic simulations showed that congestion improved with the ramp closed. With it open, the funky design lead to a lot of weaving on the Lodge and additional backups on I-94.