Through My Dirty Windshield

A bad morning for Zeeland drivers

2010-03-11T15:03:56Z

While fog barely affected drivers in West Michigan this morning, something was affecting drivers in Zeeland.

At one point, I-196 Business Loop, eastbound lanes of the four-lane highway the runs east-west between I-196 and Holland, were blocked by accidents at two different locations: State Street (five cars!) and 100th Avenue.

To make matters worse, a nearly simultaneous rollover east of the Zeeland rest area block part of eastbound I-196 at Mile Marker 59.

Was it the sun in everyone's eyes?

Elsewhere, fog got a little thick in scattered areas of the region, but the only crash of note was at Belding Road and Wabasis Avenue.

3/10/10: Sign of the Apocalypse?

2010-03-10T10:09:21Z

Two mornings out of three this week, the commute began with car fires. No injuries, and nothing that holds up traffic, since they were both at 5 a.m.

But car fires?

Vanity Shots 3/8/10

2010-03-08T16:16:49Z

Big I-96 project begins in Lansing

2010-03-08T15:37:03Z

The barrels go out and eventually eastbound traffic will be shifted to share the westbound pavement with oncoming traffic so that one of the roughest sections of I-96 can be replaced.

Re-construction of eastbound I-96 from the Wacousta Road overpass to the M-43/Saginaw Highway Exit 93 will last through July, with the westbound lanes done by November.

MDOT says two lanes will be open in both direction throughout the project and all ramps will remain open, but I expect lane closures occasionally, especially at night.

View I-96 Construction West of Lansing in a larger map

Various videos: Hand car, flying hovercraft, other silliness

2010-03-04T16:38:05Z

Vanity Shots - 3/1/10

2010-03-02T14:24:30Z

Video: Train soaks bystanders

2010-02-25T14:46:57Z

Train Soaks Pedestrians In Buenos Aires - Watch more Funny Videos

Vanity Shots 2/22/10

2010-02-24T19:36:56Z

We're #77! We're #77! As a traffic chant, it's good for commuters

2010-02-24T16:22:38Z

One of our sources for traffic information, INRIX, ranks the Grand Rapids metropolitan area #77 for bad traffic in the nation.

We're right behind Chattanooga.

Worst is Los Angeles (big surprise), and Detroit is 19th. And I love the fact that we have, by INRIX criteria, one percent of the congestion that LA has.

This may be one list that residents would not mind dropping farther in national rankings.

We're #77!

Take a look.

Vanity Shots 2/15/10

2010-02-17T16:21:00Z

How to avoid getting your driveway blocked by a snow plow

2010-02-12T13:33:41Z

This week, my driveway was blocked by a high ridge of snow by a city plow. I was grateful for the cleared street. Not so much for the blocking ridge.

A snow plow driver once gave me the best way to minimize the blocking ridge problem. He said, clear the street next to your driveway to catch the snow from the blade.

Courtesy of our pals in Minnesota, here's how:

Weekend lane closure on I-196 ...

2010-02-12T11:02:12Z

MDOT says crews will be doing some work on Saturday:

The right lane will be closed both EASTBOUND and WESTBOUND between COLLEGE AVE and FULLER AVE Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expect slowdowns, depending on traffic volumes.

Video: Car in canal, close call with a train ...

2010-02-11T16:26:09Z

The "foam van" explained ...

2010-02-10T18:14:31Z

Winter Storm Traffic: The Day After

2010-02-10T11:55:02Z

Tuesday's winter storm really took its toll.

I-94 was closed at a couple of spots in Tuesday morning and again later in the day. The eastern part of the state saw some fatalities. One Michigan State Police trooper was slightly injured when his cruiser was hit by a car that went out of control on an I-94 ramp in the Battle Creek area.

Wednesday started with EASTBOUND I-94 closed at the PAW PAW EXIT when three semis jack-knifed around 2 a.m. One tractor-trailer tipped over, and it took hours to remove its load of lemons to be able to right it.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., WESTBOUND I-94 was reduced to one lane at SPRINKLE RD due to a crash. That problem was cleared about an hour later.

Then after 8 a.m., one lane of both directions of I-94 were closed just west of I-69, creating backups.

Slide-offs and spinouts were widespread in West Michigan on the freeways and two-lane blacktops. Trouble areas included US-131 between Martin and Plainwell, I-96 in Ionia County, and I-196 between Zeeland and Hudsonville.

(Photo by FOX 17 Photographer Brian Farber)