In the middle of Sunday's storm along Lake Michigan, a section of Interstate 94 ended up being closed for six hours or better following a wreck involving a commercial semi tractor trailer and a passenger car. It wasn't that the wreck was terribly serious. In fact, no injuries were involved in the crash. However, there was concern over damage to a critical bridge that forced the extended shutdown.
Michigan State Police say that when they investigated Sunday's crash, the found that the bridge wall over the railroad had been damaged and an in-depth inspection of the bridge was required before traffic was allowed to travel on it.
Traffic was routed off of the I-94 Westbound lanes onto the ramp to Exit 23 for Red Arrow Highway. Traffic was routed right back onto the Westbound lanes at the same location, thereby bypassing the damaged bridge.
Traffic on Red Arrow Highway was stopped and diverted to allow freeway traffic to continue moving without causing a dangerous back up on I-94 under hazardous conditions from the heavy snow and blowing winds. That traffic shift was in effect from 10am until 4pm.
State Police this morning report that the bridge has been inspected and found to be structurally sound for traffic, however the left lane of travel in the area of the crash will be shut down until a time when the bridge wall itself can be repaired.
The accident caused some back ups for folks traveling in that region who were wondering what all the commotion was about, and the State Police report this morning helps clear that up.
