I-94 Pileup: Upton Urges Changes To Freeway

Lawmakers say the 193-vehicle pileup last week that killed one man and closed a stretch of I-94 near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek for two days should prompt a review of whether the stretch of roadway needs upgrades, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, told MLive that it "begs the question of what can be done" to improve what he calls "the Bermuda Triangle of Kalamazoo County."

Upton said I-94 needs to be widened from four to six lanes through eastern Kalamazoo County.

State Sen. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, however, said she doesn't know whether widening is the answer.

Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Nick Schirripa told MLive that speed and driver behavior in whiteout snow conditions are to blame in Friday morning's chain reaction crashes. Schirripa said roadway width isn't an issue.