Michigan Halts Study of I-73 Corridor

A planned interstate between Toledo, Ohio, and Jackson, Mich., has been put on the back burner.

According to The Toledo Blade, the Michigan Department of Transportation is halting further study of I-73 corridors for financial reasons.
Feasibility studies identified three possible routes for a freeway linking U.S. 23 north of Toledo with I-94 near Jackson. But critics questioned the need for a new roadway, saying existing highways would be adequate if officials could discourage through truck traffic from using U.S. 223 and U.S. 127. One environmental group said if state officials would enforce speed limits and weight enforcement along those routes, it would encourage truckers to use U.S. 23 and I-94 instead.
The state plans to use about $2.9 million left from the federal grant for studies and engineering to make safety improvements, instead, such as passing lanes, a center turn lane, or right-turn lanes. These improvements can be made in the next year or two, while building a new Interstate would take 15 to 20 years, officials said.