If You Use I-196E a Lot – Prepare for Life to Suck for the Next 6 Months

MDOT has announced that beginning May 12th, I-196 eastbound north of the US-31 split will be under construction through October 31st!  Seven miles of I-196 will be worked on, and only one lane will be open each way.

The 56th and 58th street bridges will be closed intermittently (meaning: when you need them).

This is all part of the $15.7 million reconstruction project that was finished in 2012.  This work is fix all of that.  Not that they screwed it up, I'm sure it's lovely work.  But it's time to fix ramps and bridges, and culvert, slope, guardrail and fences.

This work will go on during the day, nights, and weekends, and I-196 will only be one lane in each direction, so be careful.  See the official press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Eastbound I-196 reconstruction scheduled to start May 12 in Allegan County

Fast Facts:

• Seven miles of eastbound I-196 will be reconstructed north of the US-31 split.
• One lane of traffic will be open in each direction on I-196.
• The 56th Street and 58th Street bridges over I-196, and M-40 interchange ramps intermittently will be closed and detoured.

April 30, 2014 -- On Monday, May 12, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is scheduled to begin reconstructing more than 7 miles of eastbound I-196 in Allegan County, from the split with US-31 to the Ottawa County line in Holland.

This $15.7 million investment is the extension of the northbound I-196 reconstruction project completed in 2012. The eastbound I-196 project includes road reconstruction, ramp and bridge repairs, and culvert, slope, guardrail and fence repairs and replacement.

Construction is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31, and includes nighttime and weekend work. During construction, one lane of I-196 will be open in each direction, as well as intermittent ramp and bridge closures with posted detours.

During work on the M-40 ramp to eastbound I-196, traffic will be detoured north on M-40 to 32nd Street, then east to I-196.

While work proceeds on the  eastbound I-196 ramp to M-40, traffic will be detoured north on US-31 to M-40, then south to I-196.

The 56th Street and 58th Street bridges over I-196 will be closed alternately, and detoured. The detour for 56th Street will be 58th Street, while the detour for 58th Street will be 56th Street.