GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Avoid the East Beltline interchange when you can, use posted detours and take turns merging when lanes narrow.
Those were some of the suggestions from MDOT engineers during an open house to discuss the redesign and rebuild of the East Beltline interchange at I-96 and I-196. The project is already underway and causing some delays.
Next month I-96 at Leonard Street will close until October, adding to the congestion. The open house Tuesday at the MDOT Service Center in Grand Rapids was scheduled to explain the project, why it is needed and suggest ways to reduce the inconvenience.
“We have a really cool project out there,” said MDOT construction engineer Nate VanDrunen. “We are just going to share some information. Primarily people are interested in how it is going to affect their daily travel.”
“I just came to see what the plans for the future are for the area,” said Terri Vandenbos who lives near the interchange. “They are very helpful.”
Engineers remind drivers to “zip merge” where traffic drops to one lane on I-96. Drive to the merge point and take turns. Work on the interchange should be nearly finished by October, although MDOT says some elements won’t be done until 2020.
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“They are not real good on firm dates because of the weather,” observes Tom Hoving after talking with an engineer. “But they are really good at explaining what is happening and what is coming.”
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