As a way to reduce confusion along the U.S. 27/U.S. 127 corridor, the entire corridor will now be known as U.S. 127, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced Monday.

“We’re simply trying to make things easier for motorists, and those from out of state traveling throughout Michigan,” said Kari Debnar, MDOT spokeswoman. “There will be less confusion.”

Beginning in late spring, crews will replace all U.S. 27 signs north of Lansing to where the highway meets Interstate 75 north of Higgins Lake and along the business routes.

All signs are expected to be converted to U.S. 127 by fall.

But the replacement of the signs should have minimal impact on travelers using the corridor, Debnar said.

“The impact on motorists will be minor, since much of the work will be done off the shoulder of the road,” she said.

Lane closures will be kept to a minimum, and work will be done during non-peak hours to reduce inconveniences, Debnar said.

The approximate cost for all of the sign replacements cannot be determined until April, when the terms of the contract are completed, she said.

In addition to the U.S. 27 sign changes north of Lansing, the majority of the dual designation signs of U.S. 27 and Interstate 69 on the southwest side of the state also will be changed.

The U.S. 27 portion of the signs will be dropped and the highway will be identified only as I-69.