New road construction begins this week in Michigan

Dec 11, 2023

A stretch of road in Washtenaw County is closed for construction in this MLive file photo. The state has more than 120 new road projects that will require at least a single-lane closure this week throughout the state. (Photo by Jenna Kieser | MLive)

More orange construction barrels are going up throughout Michigan as crews work to repair roads and bridges.

The state's Department of Transportation has more than 120 road projects scheduled to begin between Monday, June 5, and Friday, June 9, that range from single-lane closures to total road shutdowns.

Some of the major projects include road improvements on M-40 in Allegan County, rebuilding sections of I-94 in Jackson County, construction on I-75 in Genesee County, and resurfacing work in Marquette County.

Below is a handful of projects to be aware of that may slow your commute or require detours from your normal routine. There's also an interactive map, which lets readers zoom into each dot to find the routes referenced in the article below.

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I-75 in Genesee County

A $5.2 million resurfacing project on I-75 begins Monday, June 5, in Genesee County.

Road work will stretch about 4.2 miles of highway in both directions between M54 and U.S. 23. Detours will begin Wednesday and Thursday, June 7-8, with northbound traffic closed for joint repairs.

Additional closures will be needed during the life of the project, which is scheduled to conclude in August.

M-40 in Allegan County

Efforts to improve M-40 (Lincoln Avenue) begin Monday in Hamilton. The state is investing about $3 million to improve about six miles of road between 136th Avenue and 48th Street in Allegan County.

Construction includes realigning the intersection at 48th Street, upgrading the traffic signal at 136th Avenue, adding a left-turn lane north of 136th Avenue, and improving the drainage system.

Road work will include lane closures and traffic shifts throughout the summer and fall. The estimated end date is in October.

I-94 in Jackson County

The westbound I-94 exit ramp to Michigan Avenue will be closed for rebuilding beginning Monday. It's a nearly three-week closure, during which traffic will be detoured via the Concord Road exit ramp to North Concord Road and then Michigan Avenue.

It's a small piece of a larger effort to rebuild nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion, and Jackson County. In total, the project will cost the state about $162 million.

M66 in Missaukee County

Construction is getting underway Monday, June 5, on 5.5 miles of M66 in Missaukee County. The stretch of work begins at M55 and runs east of McBain.

In addition to road resurfacing, the $1.5 million project also includes improving sidewalk ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and widening paved shoulders north of McBain.

Drivers can expect intermittent single-lane closures this summer. The project is expected to be completed before mid-August.

U.S. 131 in West Michigan

On Monday, June 5, traffic on U.S. 131 will be without the right lane in both directions for about a mile between 108th Street and 146th Avenue near the border of Kent and Allegan counties. The closure is expected to begin at 8 a.m. and conclude around 3 p.m. Monday.

Further north in Grand Rapids, the southbound U.S. 131 ramp to westbound I-196 will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, June 5-7. While that work is being done, Broadway Avenue will be closed from 2nd Street to 3rd Street, as will southbound Turner Avenue at I-196.

Lake Michigan Drive in Ottawa County

A single lane of M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) will be closed in both directions in Ottawa County beginning Monday and continuing through the remainder of the month. The stretch spans about six miles from Valley View Avenue in Allendale Township to Trillium Drive in Talmadge Township.

M-40 in Cass County

Construction on M-40 in both directions will require a single lane closure beginning Monday and continuing through late July. Road work will stretch from Elm Street to M-60.

Improvements in Marquette County

Starting Monday, construction will result in the closure of M-35 (N. Pine Street) in Gwinn as part of a rebuilding project from east of Smith Street to the east branch of the Escanaba River.

It's a $4.4 million project to rebuild less than a mile of M-35 in Marquette County. Work includes asphalt rebuilding, the installation of concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk ramps, and repair of storm sewer, drainage, bridge approach, water main and sanitary sewer. Work is projected to be complete by mid-October.

Additionally, the state is spending about $5.7 million for joint repairs, resurfacing and safety improvements along about six miles of U.S. 41/M-28 from Iroquois Drive to Brickyard Road between Negaunee and Marquette Township.

The road work will include asphalt resurfacing and adding left-turn lanes and reconfigured highway crossovers. Drivers can expect shoulder and single-lane closures throughout the project, which is scheduled to be done in late September.