Michigan’s US 31 at I-94 Interchange Alternatives Analysis

Since 1981, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has worked with the Federal Highway Administration to complete the US 31 freeway connection between I-80/90 in northern Indiana to I-94 in Berrien County, Michigan. The latest construction on the US 31 freeway ended in 2003 with a terminal interchange at Napier Avenue in Berrien County. The original US 31 alignment planned to connect the new freeway to the existing I-94 and I-196 interchange northeast of Benton Harbor, Michigan. However, MDOT identified a sensitive natural resource and endangered species habitat south of the I-94 and I-196 interchange. Since this discovery, MDOT identified an acceptable tie-in at the I-94 and I-94 Business Loop partial interchange east of Benton Harbor. This case study presents MDOT’s iterative approach to project development that used the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) software to identify a preferred design alternative based on a broad suite of traffic, safety, and cost considerations. The strategic application of IHSDM allowed MDOT to assess different design alternatives and project assumptions to make data-driven decisions for the proposed I-94 and US 31 interchange and surrounding network.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/63016
• Corporate Authors:

  Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated

  940 Main Campus Drive
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27606

  Michigan Department of Transportation

  Lansing, MI  United States  48909

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hamilton, Ian
  • Zhou, Yuying
• Publication Date: 2021-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Freeways; Geometric design; Interchanges; Interstate highways; Project management
• Identifier Terms: Interactive Highway Safety Design Model; Interstate 94; Michigan Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Michigan
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01856018
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-SA-21-020
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-16-D-00052
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 24 2022 3:05PM