GRAND LEDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT-- Police and Community Building Together

The renovation of M100 has caused some difficulty for Grand Ledge drivers trying to translate the new lane markings in our downtown area. The solution to the puzzle is really a lot easier than it appears at first glance. The primary change to that stretch of roadway was the reduction of Bridge Street from four lanes to three lanes.

There are a variety of uses for a three lane roadway, but within the city limits, a three lane roadway is only used to make a center lane available for left turns. In short the only valid purpose for driving in the center lane (where permitted) is to position your vehicle for a left turn. In the business districts center lanes may not be used to merge, pass, or for general travel in a straight line.

Not all middle lanes are available to everyone all the time. It is important to know if you have access to the middle lane or if you have to make your left turns from your curb side travel lane. To do that you must be able to interpret the middle lane markings.

The most important middle lane marking downtown is two solid yellow lines, spaced about 12 inches apart, on both sides of the lane.

Two solid yellow lines on your side of the middle lane means that you may not travel in that lane at that point. You may make a left turn across that lane if traffic is clear, but you must turn from the curb lane.

The most common center lane configuration is two broken yellow lines inside of two solid yellow lines.

This configuration means that the center lane is open to both directions for the purpose of positioning for, and making, a left turn.

The third configuration is two solid yellow lines on one side of the middle lane with a solid white line on the other side.

This configuration is usually seen at intersections and indicates that only the side with the white line has access to the middle lane to make a left turn. Many times the middle lane will have a white arrow painted on the pavement between the double yellow and solid white line.