A massive accident on I-94 in January raised new concerns about how safety of the highway.
The Michigan Department of Transportation, and other state agencies, will be conducting a safety audit of I-94 from the Indiana state line to U.S. Highway 27 in Jackson County.
MDOT Southwest Region spokesman Nick Schirripa says while the agency has done other traffic audits, usually they are on small stretches of road. He says a study on such a long stretch of highway is rare, and perhaps unprecedented. Schirripa says the study will examine traffic operations, roadway geometry, law enforcement, crash history and weather conditions to determine "what's happening on I-94."
The study will include detailed reviews on segments of I-94, including the stretch from Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo to Battle Creek, which is known for a large number of accidents. Schirripa says after the audit is complete, MDOT and other agencies will offer suggestions. He says those could include short-term solutions such as more rumble strips and guard rails. Schirripa says longer-term solutions may include additional road construction and the possible redesign of a stretch of roadway.
Schirripa says there is no definite time line for the study, but he estimates it should take about six months.
