Work finally begins next week on the final leg of a road project started more than 40 years ago to tie I-94 and US-31 together near Benton Harbor, and the Michigan Department of Transportation has revealed details on the process.
MDOT says they are launching a multi-year construction project on I-94, I-94 Business Loop (BL) (Main Street), and US-31 in Benton Township, Coloma and Watervliet in Berrien County. The three-year, $122.5 million project will complete the connection of US-31 from Napier Avenue to I-94, reconstruct I-94 from east of Britain Avenue to east of I-196, and realign the I-94 BL to a new interchange connecting US-31, I-94 and I-94 BL.
The first phase of construction starts next week and is expected to run through mid-November. MDOT will be reconstructing the I-94 Business Loop from Urbandale Avenue to Euclid Avenue, including the construction of a roundabout at the Crystal Avenue intersection, and converting the four-lane divided highway to three lanes between Urbandale Avenue and Crystal Avenue, and two lanes from Crystal Avenue to I-94.
During the roundabout construction, I-94 BL will be open to traffic using a lane shift, and Crystal Avenue will be closed at the intersection and detoured on Territorial Road, Euclid Avenue and Highland Avenue.
Construction also will begin on a new Britain Avenue bridge over US-31. Earthwork and bridge abutments will be completed this fall. In the spring of 2021, beams will be set, a new bridge deck will be poured, and approaches will be completed. Throughout bridge construction, Britain Avenue will be closed and detoured on Hillandale Road, East Empire Avenue, and South Benton Center Road.
Work also will start on I-94 to get ready for 2021 by building crossovers and widening shoulders on I-94 and on the ramps.
Tentative 2021 construction includes:
- Reconstruction of westbound I-94
- Construction of cul-de-sacs on Empire Avenue on each side of US-31 and Highland Avenue on each side of I-94
- Replacing the Territorial Road bridge over I-94
- Benton Center Road bridge improvements over westbound I-94 and construction of a new bridge over US-31
- Beginning construction of the US-31/I-94 BL interchange
The project is planned for completion during the 2022 construction season, with work that year including:
- Reconstruction of eastbound I-94
- Completing construction of the US-31 segment and the connection at the I-94 BL interchange
- Benton Center Road bridge improvements over eastbound I-94
- Completion of the Benton Center Road bridge over US-31
- Reconstruction of the I-196 interchange
Throughout construction, project details, maps and information will be available on Mi Drive as well as this project website: http://Michigan.gov/US-31Relocation
