M-37/M-46 roundabout in Muskegon County to open Monday
Contact:
John Richard, MDOT Office of Communications, 616-451-4063
Agency:
Transportation
October 30, 2009 --Weather permitting, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will remove a detour that has been in place since Labor Day on M-46 and partially re-open the newly configured intersection of M-37/M-46 in eastern Muskegon County the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 2.
The opening of the intersection marks the completion of the second stage of the project. Stage two involved the closure and detour of a 1/2 mile segment of M-46 to facilitate the reconstruction of the roadway and the reconfiguration of the M-37/M-46 intersection into a roundabout. Work will now progress to the third stage, which is expected to last several weeks, while a bi-pass lane is constructed. This lane will permit westbound M-37/M-46 traffic to continue north along M-37 without accessing the roundabout.
"This is the first roundabout to be installed on a state trunkline in west Michigan," said Tim Judge, Muskegon TSC manager. "We are excited about the prospect of our customers experiencing its safety and mobility advantages."
Motorists are urged to use care as they approach and navigate the roundabout, as they and others become more familiar with the process of yielding to traffic already in the intersection. For more information regarding the proper procedures and tips for navigating a roundabout, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9615_53039---,00.html
Motorists should anticipate continued traffic shifts with intermittent lane and shoulder closures throughout the duration of the project. Access will be provided to businesses on M-37 and M-46 at all times.
This project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and will benefit motorists by improving the ride quality, extending the pavement life, and increasing the safety of the intersection through construction of the new roundabout.
For up-to-date information on this project, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or visit the "Michigan Department of Transportation" page on Facebook and become a fan.
MDOT says: Remember - in Ice and Snow, Take it Slow!