Detour route changes for US-2/M-189 road work

To better accommodate underground utility upgrades, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and contractors for the US-2/M-189 reconstruction in Iron River will be changing detours and traffic patterns.

Beginning today, US-2 traffic will be shifted onto detour routes to allow US-2 to be reconstructed from 9th Avenue to M-189 ( 4th Avenue ). While this detour is different from the route originally proposed by MDOT, it will not change the project’s completion date.

“We ask that motorists pay special attention to the new signs and be courteous to other drivers as we all adjust to the new traffic patterns,” said Mike Premo, manager of MDOT’s Crystal Falls Transportation Service Center (TSC).

The following changes to traffic routing will remain in effect until early August:
– The traffic signal at US-2 and 4th Avenue will be shut off and covered. Traffic will be allowed to flow freely between 4th Avenue and US-2 to the east. The detour routes will have one-way traffic so that larger trucks are able to maneuver through the detour.
– Westbound US-2 will be detoured onto Cayuga Street between River Avenue and 9th Avenue , which will be one-way only. Stop signs on Cayuga Street at 4th and 7th avenues will be switched so that Cayuga Street traffic has the right of way; traffic on 4th and 7th avenues will need to stop for Cayuga Street traffic.
– Eastbound US-2 will be detoured onto Genesee Street between 9th and 4th avenues, which will be one-way only. The stop sign on eastbound Genesee Street at 4th Avenue will be removed while southbound 4th Avenue will now stop at Genesee Street . There will still be a stop sign for westbound Genesee Street traffic at 4th Avenue . 4th Avenue will be open only to southbound traffic between Genesee and Maple streets so that larger trucks can make the right turn from east Genesee Street to south 4th Street .
– River Avenue will be open only to northbound traffic between Maple and Cayuga streets. The stop signs at River Avenue and Genesee Street will be switched so that Genesee Street traffic will stop for River Avenue traffic.

Some parking will be available on the detour route; areas not open to parking will be clearly marked.