That's Not the Left Turn Lane!

[Mondestrucken]

The road that I take to and from is very....interesting, to say the least. But a particular one mile stretch is just nightmarish.

It is a total of 4 lanes, 2 in each direction. There is no left turn lane, and a multitude of businesses crowding the street on either side. In fact, there are so many businesses so close to the street that I think that is why they have never widened the street. To add to this delight is a rather awesome 90 degree curve to the road, and at the end of the busy (4 lane) stretch is an elementary school. In the morning traffic backs up heavily as parents try to drop their kids off at the school, and school buses try to pull in. Traffic backs up so often that the Fire Department just 100 yards away has trouble getting out onto the street on school mornings.

But the one that made my road rage alarm start beeping was the person who wanted to make a left turn, and decided to pull into the left turn lane. But there is no left turn lane (see above), so the lane they pulled into was ONCOMING traffic. I had been behind the idiot, so I was able to get through the mess (by staying in my lane) before the mess completely shut down the road.

As I drive pass, I looked over and this woman (only about 30) is smiling serenely as she waits for traffic to clear.

[mikoyan29]

There's a stretch of road like that in Ann Arbor. There was also a stretch of road like that back in my hometown. I don't know what the road in Ann Arbor was like before it was four lane but I suspect it was a three lane road with the middle being a turn lane because that's the way the road in my hometown was. I think that particular road has reverted back to a three lane. If I remember correclty, it had something to do with getting road repair money.

[Mondestrucken]

The street I am talking about is in West Bloomfield. What is it about Michigan streets?

[Wenchie]

The street I am talking about is in West Bloomfield. What is it about Michigan streets?

Ack! I fracking HATE Maple Rd during rush hour!!!!!!

I take 12 Mile to Orchard Lake to get to work in the mornings, and that's bad enough, and there IS a turn lane there! But people still have issues backing up traffic to the the schools on 12.

[mikoyan29]

The street I am talking about is in West Bloomfield. What is it about Michigan streets?

My Hometown is Bay City and the street I was talking about is Henry Street. It's kind of a main thoroughfare. When I was young, it was a two lane street I think. At some point in the late 70's, they got some money, expanded it slightly and made it into a 4 lane street. The problem is that it wasn't quite wide enough for that. A couple years ago, they did some work on it and now it is a 3 lane (one lane going each way and a turning lane). The steet in Ann Arbor I mentioned was Washtenaw through Ann Arbor (Washtenaw until you get to Stadium from Ypsi is jut fine). Like I said, I think it has something to do with funding. A city can get funding from outside sources if it is 4 lanes (or something). They might have changed this rule since these roads are not safe at times.

What's really funny is that I was heading home from my other office last night and I went down 12 Mile to stop and take pictures of the Shrine of hte Little Flower and 12 Mile from Commerce to Woodward (and beyond I think) is like that.

[Mondestrucken]

Ack! I fracking HATE Maple Rd during rush hour!!!!!!

I take 12 Mile to Orchard Lake to get to work in the mornings, and that's bad enough, and there IS a turn lane there! But people still have issues backing up traffic to the the schools on 12.

The specific street I was on is Orchard Lake in Keego Harbor (just north of 18 Mile).

[Wenchie]

The specific street I was on is Orchard Lake in Keego Harbor (just north of 18 Mile).

Orchard Lake is BAD.

Maple is BAD.

12 Mile is BAD.

696 is a fracking disaster.

What the hell is up with 75 & 94 these days anyway?

Yeah.... fun times driving.

But hello local people!