JACKSON, Mich — A massive construction project that will start next month on Interstate 94 could impact your travel through Jackson County for the next two years. I spoke with the Michigan Department of Transportation about what you can expect.
It's a continuation of the I-94 corridor project that has already expanded the highway to three lanes by Cooper Street, as well as replacing the Cooper Street bridge.
The current phase of the project, which will last until 2023, will add a diverging diamond interchange at the heavily traveled I-94, West Avenue, US-127 interchange. The Department of Transportation says this will be very driver friendly and increase safety.
“The interchange has traffic that briefly crosses over to the left and it allows for two phased operations at all signalized intersections within the interchange," said MDOT University Region spokesperson Aaron Jenkins. "This is a significant improvement in safety since these movements are controlled by traffic signals and the vehicles are guided by signs and pavement markings.”
Other pieces of the $120 million project include replacing the Lansing Avenue and Elm Avenue bridges, putting other roundabouts by the Elm Road interchange and extending I-94 to three lanes from the Airport Lane ramp to the West Avenue interchange. The Lansing Avenue bridge replacement won't start until June but traffic will have to be diverted.
The majority of this work will happen overnight.
“The contractor is allowed single lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on I-94. There will be single lane closures on US-127 when constructing the bridge and those will be day and night time closures," Jenkins said.
The project will be paid for by the Governor's rebuilding Michigan program. It is scheduled to start in March. The majority of it finished by fall of 2022, according MDOT, but it won't be completely wrapped up until June 2023 weather permitting.
“It’s nothing we’re not used to because we’ve doing this corridor project for quite a while," Jenkins said. "Once the dust settles everyone is going to be very pleased with the end product.”
There will be a virtual meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m.where you can submit questions to MDOT staff.
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