May 15, 2009 -- Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) engineers and contractors continued working Friday to re-open the I-94 bridges over Riverside Drive in Battle Creek.
A solution to the bridges' shifting is being formulated, and MDOT officials expect the westbound bridge to re-open this weekend. The eastbound bridge, which experienced most of the shifting, still is expected to open early next week.
MDOT is replacing the 50-year-old I-94 bridges, and during construction on Thursday, the soil under Riverside Drive and the I-94 bridge foundations shifted. The section of I-94 between Capital Avenue Southwest (Exit 97) and M-66 (Exit 98) was closed shortly after noon after contractors discovered the shifting.
The shift will be corrected by securing the bridge sections, strengthening the base of the bridges and removing several tons of earth behind the bridge walls.
Until the bridges re-open, I-94 traffic will continue to be detoured through Battle Creek. Westbound traffic will take Exit 98, follow M-66 to Columbia Avenue, then follow the I-94 Business Loop back to the freeway. Eastbound traffic will take the Capital Avenue exit (Exit 97), follow Beckley Road to M-66, then back onto I-94.
This project is a $10 million transportation investment to resurface 4.5 miles of eastbound and westbound I-94 between Helmer Road and 6 1/2 Mile Road, replace the I-94 bridges over Riverside Drive and reconstruct Riverside Drive under I-94 in Battle Creek.
Work began in mid-April and is expected to be completed in November.
For up-to-date information on this project, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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