MICHIGAN, USA — The Michigan Department of Transportation is ready to get started on multiple road projects in West Michigan that will likely impact your commute at some point in 2024.
Crews will be rebuilding roads, improving bridges and resurfacing various portions of US-131, I-196 and I-96.
MDOT says that US-131 needs a full rebuild and modernization, but that is estimated to cost upwards of $500 million. The annual budget for the 13 counties in the "Grand Region" of Michigan is only $100 million.
So, while a full rebuild isn't in the budget, these smaller improvements will have to suffice for the time being.
Here's our list of some of the ones with the biggest impacts:
US-131 over Plaster Creek
Beginning at the end of March, parts of US-131 near downtown Grand Rapids will be closed for bridge repair.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is spending about $6.2 million to improve and repair two bridges over Plaster Creek on US-131.
First, northbound US-131 will be closed for about a month at 28th Street. There will be a single lane open from Burton Street through the downtown. Then, southbound US-131 will close at Burton Street for about a month.
This is thanks to a $6.2 million investment to improve the north and southbound bridges.
Date: Sunday, March 31, 2024
Impacts: lane redirections and closures.
M-11 (28th Street) bridge over Little Plaster Creek
Work also includes crews preparing concrete joints on US-131 from M-11 (28th Street) to Pearl Street.
"It's going to be highly disruptive to traffic because we have to you know, detour basically 120,000 vehicles on that stretch. It's the busiest highway in all of Michigan outside of Detroit. So this is going to be very disruptive," said MDOT Communications Representative John Richard.
MDOT is calling the project an "extremely necessary fix."
"It desperately needs it. That stretch from basically M-11, 28th Street, all the way down to 196. We've been studying that section for years on the PEL study. It needs a full rebuild," said Richard.
Date: October 2024 to November 2024
Impacts: Lane redirections and closures.
US-131 from 100th Street to 76th Street
The Michigan Department of Transportation is investigating about $70 million to rebuild US-131 from 76th Street to 100th Street in Byron Township.
The project also includes the addition of weave/merge lanes between the 76th Street and 84th Street interchanges. This will extend the 76th Street on ramp to the 84th Street off ramp on southbound US-131 and extend the 84th Street on ramp to the 76th Street off ramp on northbound US-131.
Date: April 2024 to Winter 2026
Impacts: lane & ramp closures, short-term detours on US-131 throughout the project
Northbound US-131 ramp to I-96 and M-37 (Alpine Avenue)
Crews will be rebuilding the northbound US-131 ramp to I-96 and M-37(Alpine Avenue).
Date: May 2023 to October 2024
Impacts: lane & ramp closures.
M-6/I-96 Interchange
Michigan Department of Transportation crews will be rebuilding the ramps along the M-6 and I-96 interchange.
Date: May 2024 to November 2024
Impacts: lane & ramp closures.
Segwun Avenue Bridge over I-96
Date: April 2024 to July 2024
Impacts: lane closures
M-89/M-40/Hubbard Street Intersection
Crews will be building a roundabout in the city of Allegan as well as resurfacing M-89 between M-222 and 29th Street.
Date: March 2024 to November 2024
Impacts: lane closures
I-196 Business Loop from US 21 in Holland to 88th Avenue in Zeeland
Starting this spring, crews will rebuild portions of the I-196 Business Loop in Holland to Zeeland.
Date: April 2024 to November 2024
Impacts: lane closures
I-96 from Bliss Road to Sunfield Road
Crews will also be working on I-96 from Bliss Road to Sunfield Road with bridge improvement work on Jordan Lake Road over I-96 in Ionia County.
Date: June 2024 to Fall 2026
Impacts: lane closures
Virtual Public Meeting
Still have questions or want to learn more about these projects?
You can join MDOT officials for a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Those who attend will learn how to receive project-specific updates and other traffic information.
To join by phone without using Internet, call 248-509-0316.
Conference ID: 757 314 217#
Latest MDOT Conditions and Closures
You can find traffic information on US, M and I routes throughout Michigan here.
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