ADS-L Digest - 19 Sep 2005 to 20 Sep 2005 (#2005-264)

[Geoff Nathan]

At 12:00 AM 9/21/2005, you wrote:
>I'm told that this turn originated in New Jersey (no authority given),
>where it is called a 'jug handle turn'
>Many of the first Google hits do appear to be from NJ (some are MA, perhaps
>elsewhere too)   However, whether 'jug handle turn' means the same thing as
>the 'Michigan Left' described above remains to be determined.
No, a jug-handle turn is different from a Michigan left.  A
jug-handle turn involves a specially-built right loop (I think of it
as more shaped like a teacup handle) which exists solely to allow the
traffic to peel off to the right, swing around and approach the
highway at a right angle.  In a Michigan left you simply turn right
at the light (regular intersection), but each street has a
median.  Immediately after turning right you move to the left lane,
and cross over the median, out of which you can make a left turn in
the direction you want to go.
Michigan lefts are very common in Michigan because virtually all
major streets (and some minor ones too) have medians (with trees and
grass, usually), and lots of-cut outs to permit u-turns and Michigan
lefts.  Some of the cut-outs even have left turn lanes as you
approach them.  I wish I could draw pictures in e-mail.

Geoff