KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project to widen I-94 to six lanes from Lovers Lane to Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo County, as well as to rebuild the Portage Road interchange, is entering the final stages. With all three westbound I-94 lanes open and the opening of all three eastbound lanes in sight, contractors are anticipating a mid-October completion of work on this three-year, $87 million project.
Work remaining on the eastbound I-94 lanes includes shoulder pavement repairs and replacing guardrail damaged by crashes. Contractors Toebe Construction and M & M Excavating are anticipating reopening all three lanes by Sept. 30.
There will be some intermittent, short-duration total closures of eastbound I-94 to hang signs over the travel lanes, which will be assisted by law enforcement. There also may be some shoulder closures for sound wall completion. Neither of that work is expected to have significant impacts on I-94 traffic.
Final paving of Portage Road is starting this week and is expected to be completed by Sept. 25.
After that, all that remains is tying Portage Road and the interchange ramps together with new traffic signals. Signal poles and mast arms are being delivered, with the contractors planning to install them in October, leading to all lanes and ramps being reopened to traffic in their new alignments.
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,052 jobs.
