I'm putting this first, since the IPL didn't come up with any specific suggestions.
WARNING: If you don't already know this, you do NOT want to be on M-14 between Ford Rd and I-275 during the day, especially at rush hour. It is okay at night, though parts of the pavement are rough if you're driving a car and not an SUV.
Here are two alternative routes that were suggested to me for going from Ann Arbor to Royal Oak without setting a tire on M-14. I haven't tested or verified them, but they're from reasonable people:
- The current best route to Royal Oak from here is to take I-94 to the Southfield (M-39) and take that to either I-696 (there's a couple of miles of traffic lights, but it's not too bad) or then take surface streets to wherever you're going. It's a bit longer - I-94 takes you a lot farther south than you really need to go, and the interchange at US-23 is under variable construction too - but you avoid M-14 completely, and I-696 west of the Southfield. This won't work anymore in a few weeks, when they start replacing bridges over the Southfield, but it works for the time being. I expect a zig-zag route of I-94 to I-275 to I-96 to the Southfield to I-696 to work all summer, but that's a lot of zigging.
- Take I-94 East to I-75, then north to 11 Mile, then west (left) into downtown Royal Oak (about 2 miles from the freeway). It's a little longer, depending on how far north you start from in Ann Arbor, but I've driven it lots of times and (off rush hour) it's pretty good. Note: I haven't driven this route lately, except for the last little bit from 8 to 11 Mile, so I don't know if there's any construction currently.
Greetings from the Internet Public Library. Thank you for sending us your question about road construction on Michigan’s State Highway M-14.
I searched Google using various combinations of “Michigan,†“highways,†“scenic highways,†“scenic roads,†and “road construction.â€
I was unable to locate on-line information regarding possible detours to avoid the construction. I called the Michigan Department of Transportation and asked about alternative routes and was told that unless a road is completely closed, detour information is not provided. They did provide a link to the following map. It contains details regarding the timeline of the project and when ramps will be closed.
http://michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_m14map_154113_7.pdf
I also found the following web sites:
1. Michigan Department of Transportation, Paving the Way 2006
http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/LaneClosure/
If you choose your county from the “Counties with closures†drop down menu and M-14 under the “Routes with Closures†menu you can receive information that will specify how many lanes will be closed on M-14 between which exits and during which hours for the current date.
2. BT’s Detroit Road Guide
M14 Ann Arbor – Plymouth Freeway Exit Listing. The list of the road and highways that exit M-14 may assist you in planning your trip.
http://btcentral1.tripod.com/m14exitlist.html
3. MichiganHighways.org
Michigan Transportation Links
http://www.michiganhighways.org/links.html
4. Michigan Department of Transportation Heritage Routes
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9621_11041_11209---,00.html
Under “designated routes†are links to three pages that give detailed information about Scenic Heritage Routes, Historic Heritage Routes and Recreation Heritage Routes. Each route’s location and the natural/historical resources that may be found along them are listed.
5. Allgetaways.com
Best Michigan Scenic Drives and Road Trips
http://www.allgetaways.com/top_getaways.asp?areaid=100403
6. Michigan.org
Browse city tours, fall color tours, heritage tours, maritime tours and wine trails.
http://www.michigan.org/travel/drivingtours/?m=9
7. America’s Byways
http://www.byways.org/browse/states/MI/
8. Fueleconomy.gov
Links to gasoline price data and gas station locations for Michigan
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/MI.shtml
I hope the information I found for you is helpful. Thank you for using the
IPL. Have an enjoyable and safe trip!
