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Major projects, major impacts start Monday in Grand Rapids
Michigan DOT sent this bulletin at 03/26/2019 03:25 PM EDT
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019
CONTACT: John Richard, MDOT Office of Communications, 616-262-1565
Major projects, major impacts start
Monday in Grand Rapids
Fast facts:
- MDOT is widening and reconstructing the westbound I-196 bridge over the Grand River and realigning the I-96/I-196 interchange with M-44/M-37 (East Beltline Avenue) in Grand Rapids.
- Westbound I-196 will be closed before US-131 from April 1 through Aug. 31.
- Lane closures will be in effect on eastbound I-96 between Leonard Street and East Beltline Avenue through mid-June.
March 26, 2019 -- The 2019 construction season will be in full swing in the Grand Rapids area with two major Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects starting Monday, April 1.
"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. Watch the project animation on MDOT's YouTube channel.
This Monday, westbound I-196 will be closed at Ottawa Avenue with no access to US-131 from April 1 through Aug. 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.
Also starting Monday and continuing through June, lane closures will be in effect on eastbound I-96 between Leonard Street and East Beltline Avenue. 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.
A map of these projects is available on the Mi Drive traffic and construction information website.
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Visit MDOT's Mi Drive traffic information website: www.Michigan.gov/Drive www.twitter.com/MDOT_West | www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT | www.youtube.com/MichiganDOT
