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| MDOT begins work today on $68 million
widening project on I-94 in Kalamazoo County
Contact:
Julie Hurley, MDOT Office of Communications, 269-208-7829
Agency:
Transportation
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September 5, 2006 - - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin work on Tuesday, Sept. 5, on a $68 million widening project on I-94 from west of US-131 to east of Oakland Drive in the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage in Kalamazoo County.
Work includes the reconstruction of the I-94/US-131 and I-94/Oakland Drive interchanges, as well widening 2.6 miles of I-94 to add one through lane in each direction.
"This project has been in the works for a long time, and we're very pleased to begin the construction," said Southwest Region engineer Bobbi Welke. "The widening of I-94 and the reconstruction of the US-131 and Oakland interchanges will improve traffic flow through this important section of I-94."
The I-94/US-131 interchange work includes the removal of the southbound US-131 to eastbound I-94 loop ramp and replacing the loop ramp with a slip ramp that will cross under I-94 (to the west of US-131) and cross over US-131 (to the south of I-94). Four new bridges will be built to accommodate this slip ramp; two for I-94 traffic over the new ramp and two for the new ramp traffic over US-131.
Oakland Drive will be reconstructed and widened to add a second left-turn lane from northbound Oakland Drive to westbound I-94.
In addition to the four new bridges and the reconstruction of the Oakland Drive bridge, six existing I-94 bridges (four over US-131 and two over 12th Street) will be reconstructed and widened; soundwalls will be added adjacent to residential areas; and new signage, traffic signals, pavement markings, drainage systems, and ITS conduit will be constructed. The bridges and soundwalls will include aesthetic treatments as agreed upon with local partners and in keeping with MDOT's Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process.
"It is crucial for us to be able to maintain traffic on I-94 while this work is in progress," Welke said. "Throughout the work, two lanes of traffic will be open in each direction. There will be an occasional single lane closure, but those will take place during off-peak travel hours."
Stage 1 work will begin the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 5. Work includes median reconstruction and construction of temporary crossovers in order to maintain traffic in 2007. Stage 2 work will take place throughout 2007, and includes the reconstruction of westbound I-94, with traffic maintained on the eastbound roadway, and Stage 3 work will take place throughout 2008, and includes the reconstruction of eastbound I-94, with traffic maintained on the westbound roadway. Project restoration will occur during spring 2009 and the entire project is scheduled for completion in May 2009.
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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