Michigan starts upgrade work on I-69, bridges

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently started a nearly $50 million project to improve approximately 11 miles of eastbound I-69 roads from west of M-19 (Kinney Road) to east of Taylor Road.

The work is expected to be completed by November. Bridge repairs, which are also part of the project, will begin this month and run through August 2016, including work to replace the Taylor Road bridge over I-69. The project includes reconstructing the roadway and interchanges at Kinney, Wales Center and Taylor roads; bridge approaches; bridge repairs of seven structures and three box culverts; drainage and safety improvements; new signs and pavement markings; guardrail work; and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) work.

Traffic will be affected in the construction areas. Eastbound I-69 traffic will be maintained on the westbound side of the roadway with temporary median crossovers. There will be one lane of traffic in each direction separated by a concrete barrier wall. Access to and from M-19 will be maintained until ramp reconstruction work begins in early September. During reconstruction, M-19 ramp traffic will be detoured. The M-19 ramps are expected to reopen to traffic in mid-October.

In addition, access to and from Wales Center Road will be maintained until early August, then detoured. Access from I-69 to Taylor Road will be maintained until May 1, then closed and detoured until September.