The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin cycling the traffic light at Canal Road and M-26 for the summer, marking another step in efforts to improve safety at a historically problematic intersection.
On Monday, MDOT announced will begin operating the traffic signal at the Canal Road intersection with M-26 for red, amber and green signals on May 11th. The department installed the traffic signal in 2025 with two goals: ease congestion on Canal Road for traffic turning left onto M-26 toward the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, and slow down traffic traveling downhill into downtown.
The speed limit between the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and the Canal Road intersection is 35 mph, while speeds increase to 45 mph traveling up the hill, south on the highway.
For several years, law enforcement has responded to accidents on the stretch of road between the Lift Bridge and Canal Road. The crashes often involved drivers turning left off the highway while vehicles in the left lane waved them over, only to be struck by speeding vehicles in the right lane.
Growing neighborhoods in west Houghton and Adams Township, plus the establishment of Keweenaw Waters Resort, have increased traffic on Canal Road. Long waits at the previous stop sign, impatient drivers and high speeds contributed to numerous accidents in the area.
MDOT continues studying traffic trends at the intersection. The department plans to change the signal to blinking amber in fall, typically around October.
