ROMULUS, Mich. – Travelers heading to Detroit Metropolitan Airport this weekend are urged to plan ahead, as multiple freeway closures could affect travel times.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has closed the westbound I-94 ramps to and from Middlebelt and Merriman roads while crews repair the road surface.

The closures are expected to remain in place through Monday morning (June 15), though officials said the ramps could reopen sooner if work is completed ahead of schedule.

Despite the construction, access to DTW remains available via southbound I-275 to Eureka Road.

With increased traffic and potential delays, travel experts recommend arriving at the airport 90 minutes to two hours before a domestic flight.

Drivers may want to allow an additional 30 minutes due to ongoing road work near the airport.

Passengers are also encouraged to check in for their flights before leaving home, verify flight information, and have identification and boarding passes readily available when arriving at security checkpoints.

Wearing shoes and clothing that are easy to remove can also help speed up the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening process.

In addition to the work near the airport, eastbound I-96 is closed from the Southfield Freeway to Schaefer Highway as MDOT crews demolish the Hubbell Bridge deck.

That closure is also expected to remain in place until Monday morning.

Transportation officials advise motorists to check for updated traffic conditions before traveling and to allow extra time to reach their destinations throughout the weekend.

As Jacob Misiorowski faced off with the Philadelphia Phillies – who publicly decried Jacob after his stunning All-Star Game selection last season – the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander and his teammates swore there wasn’t any added venom behind his fastballs on June 12 at American Family Field. 

Try telling that to the radar gun. 

Misiorowski looked like a man on a mission – even the aw-shucks smiles from his locker postgame tried saying otherwis.e 

The 24-year-old flamethrower incinerated the Phillies over a one-hit shutout in a Brewers’ 6-0 win, coming within one base runner of a perfect game and recording the most strikeouts ever (15) in a shutout of fewer than 100 pitches – colloquially referred to as a “Maddux”. 

Misiorowski reached back for 104.5 mph, the fastest tracked pitch by a starting pitcher ever, and surpassed 103 mph three times against the final batter of his masterpiece.

Aside from a Kyle Schwarber single to lead off the fourth, it was, in a reversal of last July’s proceedings through the press, a bully stomping on innocent prey.

“What a joke,” is what Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told The Athletic nearly a calendar year ago when news came out that Misiorowski was going to play in the All-Star Game despite just five career outings. “That’s f—ing terrible. I mean that’s terrible, dude.” 

“It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas,” said Nick Castellanos. 

The motive for the Phillies’ comments was to defend their teammate, Cristopher Sánchez. The left-hander Sánchez was having a stellar year at the time and went on to finish second in Cy Young voting, but was passed over on the initial all-star selections. When MLB offered him a spot in the game under the condition he would be available to pitch two days after his final scheduled start of the first half, he declined. 

Misiorowski, though, was caught by the stray blows emanating from Philadelphia’s clubhouse simply for accepting the commissioner’s invitation. The veterans on the Phillies felt his nod cheapened the honor that comes with making the midsummer classic. 

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Metro Transit’s E-Line is marking six months on the road, and business owners are weighing in on the changes it has brought to their neighborhoods.

E-Line brings new riders and renewed business

What we know:

The E-Line, Metro Transit’s eighth bus rapid transit line, launched in December and runs from Southdale to the University of Minnesota. It replaced the Number 6 bus and features enhanced stations with better lighting, security cameras, real-time bus information and ticket machines.

Metro Transit reports the E-Line is averaging about 5,600 rides a day, which is roughly twice the number they expected. “The E-line has been a real success. People want service that’s fast, frequent and reliable, and you get all those things when you do something like this on the E-line,” said Drew Kerr, Metro Transit spokesperson.

Syril McNally, who owns Doug Flanders and Associates Fine Art Gallery near 50th and France, says the area has bounced back since construction ended. “We’ve had a lot of new people come in who have never been here before, and that have wanted to come for quite a while. So yeah, it’s absolutely helped people reach us,” said McNally.

Some business owners at 50th and France and in Linden Hills reported their revenues dropped 40% to 60% during construction of the new bus stops and other improvements. But Metro Transit says the upgrades have helped attract more riders to the line.

‘It’s absolutely worth the pain’

The backstory:

The E-Line’s construction caused headaches for some shop and restaurant owners in south Minneapolis and Edina, with significant revenue drops during the work. However, the hope was that the new transit line would bring more people to the area once finished.

McNally believes the short-term pain was worth it for the long-term gain. “We have artists who depend on the bus, so for that reason alone absolutely. I think it’s great if it helps more people get to where they need to go. It’s wonderful,” said McNally.

What they’re saying:

Business owners and Metro Transit both say the E-Line has helped bring new customers to the 50th and France area and made it easier for people to visit shops and galleries.

The improvements to stations and increased ridership are seen as a positive sign for the neighborhoods served by the E-Line.

Metro Transit says a new bus rapid transit line will debut in St. Paul next year, and more lines are being developed for the future.