April 9, 2008 -- The largest road construction project of the season in the Grand Rapids area will get under way Monday, April 14, as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) begins work on 3 miles of I-196 in western Kent County.
"The construction of the new Baldwin Street interchange is the part of this project that has received the most attention," said Erick Kind, MDOT Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center (TSC) manager. "But there are a number of other improvements being made that also will help to improve traffic flow in that area."
Both east- and westbound I-196 will be reconstructed from the Kent/Ottawa county line to M-11 (28th Street). New retaining walls will be constructed and repairs will be made to two bridges. The bridges over Buck Creek and the CSX Railroad will be completely replaced and a new structure will be constructed to carry traffic from Baldwin Street to eastbound I-196. A new weave/merge lane will be constructed on I-196 eastbound between the new Baldwin Street ramp and M-11.
Construction on westbound I-196 will be done this year, with completion scheduled in November. Construction on eastbound I-196 will begin in April 2009, and is scheduled to be completed in November.
"The work on I-196 is on an accelerated schedule and will be done in stages in order to minimize the impact to motorists," said Tom Tellier, MDOT Grand Rapids TSC delivery engineer. "For through-traffic, M-6 to US-131 is recommended as an alternate route."
During both 2008 and 2009 construction, two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound will be maintained using traffic shifts. This year, westbound I-196 access to M-121 (Chicago Drive) and 44th Street will be maintained with temporary median crossovers. Traffic traveling from westbound Chicago Drive and westbound 44th Street to westbound I-196 will be detoured.
This $37 million project will ease traffic congestion, increase safety and improve ride quality.
Protect Michigan families: Where Workers Present Drive 45! - A message from MDOT and Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition
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