I-94 rebuilding project in Berrien County nearing end

Fast facts:

• Eastbound ramps in the I-94 project area in Berrien County will reopen today, and all traffic has been returned to original alignment.
• All I-94 lanes are expected to be reopened by Nov. 13 after crews complete rebuilding 8.5 miles of I-94 and four bridges, as well as repairing nine other bridges, between Puetz Road and Britain Avenue.
• This three-year, $204 million investment was funded in part by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program.

COLOMA, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with contractors Rieth Riley Construction, Kalin Construction, and Milbocker and Sons Inc., is expecting to complete work next week on the three-year, $204 million investment on I-94 in Berrien County.

All eastbound ramps are expected to reopen Thursday, Oct. 29, and traffic has been returned to their normal lanes. Lane closures will continue through Friday, Nov. 13, as crews complete median work to reopen all lanes.

In the final year of work, crews completed:

• Eastbound I-94 bridge repairs over the St. Joseph River.
• The new eastbound I-94 bridge over Pipestone Road.
• The new Yore-Stoeffer Drain, Kelly Miller Drain and Palisades Drain box culverts under eastbound I-94.
• Rebuilding eastbound I-94 between the St. Joseph River and Washington Avenue.
• Rebuilding eastbound I-94 between Britain Avenue and Pipestone Road.
• Repaving eastbound I-94 from Pipestone Road to the St. Joseph River.
• The new Niles Avenue entrance ramp to eastbound I-94 (Exit 27).
• Sign upgrades, cable guardrail installation, new culvert installations, ramp improvements and drainage improvements along eastbound I-94.

Funding for investment was made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state's economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state's infrastructure.

Based on economic modeling, this $204 million investment is expected to have directly and indirectly supported 2,911 jobs.