Police: I-94 bridge is danger spot in winter
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 10:29 PM EDT | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 5:10 PM EDT
BENTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Bridges come in all shapes and sizes. Each can be dangerous to drive on during the winter. None might be as dangerous as the St Joseph River Bridge in Berrien County.
The I-94 bridge connects Saint Joseph Township and Benton Township between mile marker 27 and mile marker 28.
“It’s one of the most slippery spots or icy spots in the area,” said Trooper Mike Sites with the Michigan State Police. Several serious accidents happen on the bridge every winter.
Sites said so many accidents happen that the spot has a reputation. “It’s known among the law enforcement community at least as creating a lot of crashes.”
The river water creates a cold spot under the bridge and the wind that blows underneath the freeze the surface. The bridge freezes before most other spots on I-94.
According to michigantrafficcrashfacts.org, between 2006 and 2010 more than 70 high speed accidents were reported within a quarter mile of the bridge and the cause for all the accidents was snow and ice.
Sites said the scariest part about the St Joseph River Bridge is you can’t see the danger approaching. “When you hit the bridge it’s covered in ice and you don’t realize it until it’s too late.”
Michigan State Police say danger can be avoided on all bridges and overpasses by slowing down prior to entering the area.