Deteriorating road conditions and errant drivers continue to play havoc on Interstate-94 in Michigan’s Great Southwest. What had been a few crashes earlier this morning has grown into full scale shutdowns in several other situations where accidents have happened on this snowy Friday morning, January 25, 2019. .
It’s gotten to the point that the Berrien County Road Department took to Facebook with a message for people to consider staying off the highway: “I-94 is closed at the 10 mile marker east bound. Many other locations have crashes. Please avoid if possible.”
The Michigan Department of Transportation has been busy firing off alerts on several spots along the highway. Here’s what they have shared in the last hour:
- I-94 Eastbound at Sawyer Road, Exit 12 — All lanes blocked due to a crash.
- I-94 Eastbound at Union Pier Road, Mile Marker 10 — Freeway closed due to a crash.
- I-94 Eastbound after US-31, Exit 30 (Napier Avenue) Right lane blocked due to a crash.
- I-94 Westbound after Grand Mere Road, Exit 22 at Mile Marker 18.8 — Left land blocked due to a crash.
- I-94 Westbound after Lawrence, Exit 52 — Freeway closed due to a crash.
- I-94 Westbound after Business Loop 94, Main Street, Exit 33 — Left 2 lanes blocked due to a crash.
Police and plow operators are asking everyone to use caution on the open roadway, to slow down, and be observant of road conditions. Strong winds are causing white out conditions at times that can lead to serious disorientation and crashes like those already reported.
Baroda-Lake Township Police posted photos on their Facebook page of a car hauler that had overturned near Mile Marker 19 this morning. They also had this to say: “I-94 should be avoided. There are several accidents and slide offs. Parts of I-94 are shut down in Berrien County and also between Hartford and Lawrence Michigan.”
