LANSING, MI — The 2019 construction season is in full swing in the Grand Rapids area with two major Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects recently beginning.
"These two significant projects will greatly improve the system as west Michigan continues to grow," said MDOT Grand Region Engineer Erick Kind. "The traffic restrictions will be impactful but are necessary for the safety of all motorists and work zone crews."
MDOT is investing approximately $61 million to widen and reconstruct the westbound I-196 bridge over the Grand River at the US-131 interchange. The wider bridge will accommodate wider shoulders and additional lanes to better connect westbound I-196 to the US-131 interchange. To the east, eastbound and westbound I-196 will be reconstructed between Maryland Avenue and East Beltline Avenue, and the I-96/I-196/East Beltline Avenue interchange will be reconfigured to create dedicated exit lanes to East Beltline Avenue.
Westbound I-196 is currently closed at Ottawa Avenue with no access to US-131 from April 1 through August 31. Downtown exits to Fuller, College and Ottawa avenues will remain open but through-traffic will be detoured onto westbound I-96 to southbound US-131.
Lane closures are in effect on eastbound I-96 between Leonard Street and East Beltline Avenue until June. In mid-June, eastbound I-96 will be closed after the Leonard Street exit for approximately four-and-a-half months. Eastbound I-96 will remain open to the Plainfield Avenue and Leonard Street exits but through-traffic will be detoured to southbound US-131 to eastbound I-196.