Первое в мире перекрестие с «мичиганским левым» расположено в Детройте

DETROIT – The intersection of Eight Mile and Livernois may look like any other busy crossroads. But it holds a significant place in traffic engineering history. Sitting along the border of Detroit and Ferndale is reportedly the site of the very first Michigan Left, built in the early 1960s. What is a Michigan Left? Drivers may know it by many names: a median U-turn crossover, restricted crossing U-turn, boulevard left, boulevard turnaround, indirect left turn, J-turn, P-turn, thru-turn -- or, perhaps most unusually, a Michigan loon. Whatever the name, the concept is the same. A Michigan Left requires drivers to go straight or turn right, then use a median crossover to reverse direction. Northbound on Livernois and need to head west on Eight Mile? Turn right, then wrap around. Eastbound on Eight Mile and need to go north on Livernois? Pass the intersection, make a U-turn at the median crossover, then turn right. Most drivers use them every day without giving them a second thought. Why go right to go left? The answer comes down to safety and traffic flow. Left turns create more conflict points and more serious crashes. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Lefts can reduce crashes by roughly 30–60% and improve overall traffic flow. Similar to roundabouts, they may add a few seconds to a trip or cause brief confusion for unfamiliar drivers. But the trade-off is fewer crashes and smoother-moving roads. Why is it called a Michigan Left? Like many driving innovations, this one came from the Motor City. The design was developed for Michigan roads in the 1960s and has been a fixture of the state’s roadway system ever since. Other states have begun implementing the design, though decades after Michigan pioneered it. So the next time a right turn seems like the wrong move, it might just be the safer one. MDOT has produced a brochure with more information regarding the Michigan Left. It can be read here.