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Busiest Monday of new road construction season affects US-131, I-94

Posted at 6:28 AM, Apr 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-18 06:28:03-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It may look like it was planned, but the fact that the weather is perfect for the busiest Monday of the new road construction season is just a coincidence. Major projects are just underway or are about to get underway on US-131 in Grand Rapids and Portage and on I-94 in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

Traffic was snarled over the weekend by double lane closures on US-131 from West River Drive to Pearl Street, and the Michigan Department of Transportation says you can expect double lane closures on that stretch of highway every weekend until July.

Much to commuters’ dismay, a lane closure will remain on southbound US-131 on the weekdays. Expect the left lane to be closed beginning at I-96, but it will shift into a right lane closure from Ann Street to Leonard Street. This will be in place weekdays until July 7.

The lane closure is the result of a major project that involves creation of a new weave-merge lane that will begin at Ann Street and feed the off-ramp to Leonard Street. Extensive bridge work is being done at the same time.

Two ramps are affected: the entrance ramp from Ann Street/Turner Avenue to southbound US-131 is closed until July 7. Enter US-131 southbound from Leonard Street. The exit ramp from southbound US-131 to Leonard Street is also closed. To get to Leonard Street, exit early at Ann Street.

In Kalamazoo County, US-131 will see lane closures beginning today through September 30 in both directions between I-94 and U Avenue. Extensive work will be done, from resurfacing to guardrail replacement and traffic signal improvements.

Also in Kalamazoo County, the interchange at 40th Street/Michigan Avenue in Charleston Township will see nighttime lane closures on I-94 and some ramp closures. Beginning today, the exit ramp from eastbound I-94 and the entrance ramp to westbound I-94 will be closed until September 16. Beginning April 29, the other ramps will close.

In Van Buren County, new nighttime lane closures are scheduled on eastbound I-94 from mile 58 to mile 61 in Paw Paw.