As work continues to progress on the road project that will ultimately connect US-31 with I-94 near the I-196 interchange in Benton Harbor, drivers will face some nighttime closures along I-94 over the next three weekends, beginning this weekend in Benton Charter Township to facilitate the demolition of several bridges over the interstate. The result will also mean you will not be able to connect with I-94 from Main Street in Benton Harbor for about another year or so as that entire interchange gets rebuilt for the link-up.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is reporting that those nighttime closures on I-94 will take place from the Napier Avenue Exit 30 to the M-140 Exit 41 starting this weekend.
As part of the Rebuilding Michigan project on I-94 and US-31 in Berrien County, MDOT will be closing that stretch of I-94 from Napier Avenue to M-140 Exit 41 for the following bridge demolition:
- The I-94 Business Loop bridge will be removed from 9 pm Saturday, April 17th to 9 am Sunday, April 18th
- The Highland Avenue bridge will be removed from 9 pm Saturday, April 24th, to 9 am Sunday, April 25th,
- The Territorial Road bridge will be removed from 9 pm Saturday, May 1st to 9 am Sunday, May 2nd.
During each closure, the following detour routes will be posted:
- I-94 traffic will be detoured on Napier Avenue and M-140
- Eastbound I-94 traffic to northbound I-196 will be detoured on M-139, Territorial Road, Euclid Avenue, and Red Arrow Highway
- Westbound I-94 traffic to northbound I-196 will be detoured on M-140 and Red Arrow Highway
- Southbound I-196 traffic to westbound I-94 will be detoured on Red Arrow Highway, Euclid Avenue, Territorial Road, and M-139
The removal of the Business Loop bridge that currently connects Main Street of Benton Harbor to I-94 means that until the new interchange there gets rebuilt, you’ll have to head to Red Arrow Highway or Napier Avenue to connect with I-94 for the foreseeable future while that work is undertaken by MDOT.
