If you’re hitting the road for a trip, or getting back to your commute, keep an eye out for a number of road construction projects that may affect traffic flow this week.
Between Sunday, July 14, and Saturday, July 20, more than 50 new lane, ramp, and road closures are scheduled to begin, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
Drivers should plan for potential traffic slowdowns, especially during busy times, on highways including the I-196 Business Loop in Ottawa County, U.S. 131 in Kalamazoo County, and I-75 in Wayne and Oakland counties.
Below is a summary of eight closures to watch out for this week. All projects are weather-dependent. State officials remind drivers to slow down and follow posted signage in work zones.
A complete list of road projects is available through MDOT’s online map and construction list.
U.S. 131 in Kalamazoo County
Northbound U.S. 131 from XY Avenue to Lyons Street will close at midnight Monday for construction. Drivers are asked to detour using northbound U.S. 131 to XY Avenue, travel east on XY Avenue to Portage Road and head north on Portage Road to U Avenue, and then west on U Avenue to U.S. 131.
The impacted area is scheduled to reopen on July 29.
M-46 in Muskegon County
Daytime lane closures for road work are scheduled to begin on M-46 – also known as Apple Avenue – at Quarterline Road. The closures will be in place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and last through Thursday.
I-196 Business Loop in Ottawa County
Ramps closures are scheduled to go into effect Tuesday – lasting months – along the I-196 Business Loop.
Workers will close the westbound I-196 Business Loop ramp to both northbound and southbound U.S. 31 for construction. The left shoulders on westbound and eastbound I-196 Business Loop from 88th Avenue to 96th Avenue will also close.
All closures will remain in place through Nov. 11, MDOT says.
M-21 in Kent County
The eastbound and westbound lanes of M-21 from Hudson Street to Division Street will close for weeks starting at 8 a.m. Monday. To detour construction, drivers are asked to use Washington Street.
Workers are set to reopen the road at 4 p.m. on Aug. 15.
I-75 in Wayne and Oakland counties
Several single-lane, double-lane, ramp and total closures are planned along segments of I-75. All closures are scheduled to go into effect on Monday.
In Wayne County, the southbound I-75 ramp to eastbound I-94 will be closed until Aug. 30. Two lanes of southbound and northbound I-75 at I-94 will close for maintenance through Aug. 2. A daylong single-lane closure is scheduled on northbound I-75 from the Ambassador Bridge to Vernor Highway.
In Oakland County, the northbound I-75 ramp to Dixie Highway will be closed through Aug. 12. The right shoulder of southbound I-75 from Coolidge Road to 13 Mile Road will close for construction and last through July 29. Workers will also close southbound I-75 from Corporate Drive to 13 Mile Road until July 29.
I-94 Business Loop in St. Clair County
A special event will close segments of the I-94 Business Loop from Thursday to Sunday. The northbound and southbound lanes from Water Street to Andrew Murphy Drive will be closed. Workers will also close both directions of I-94 Business Loop from Erie Street to I-69.
I-96 in Livingston County
A daylong closure planned Monday will close the eastbound I-96 ramp to southbound U.S. 23 intermittently. The ramp is scheduled to close at 9 a.m. and reopen at 4 p.m., MDOT says.
M-82 in Newaygo County
A special event in the city of Fremont will close eastbound and westbound lanes of M-82 from Weaver Avenue to Stewart Avenue from July 14-21.