Rebuilding Michigan: I-496 Improvement Project in Lansing Continues
We have been watching them doing work on I-496 eastbound for a few months now, that segment finally opened a week or so ago, now they are working on the west bound side. This is the first project in Governor Whitmer’s rebuilding Michigan program. This project is one of 122 in progress on heavily travelled state highways. It is made possible or added to an accelerated timeline thanks to bond financing the state transportation commission approved the first of the year. The state will be able to advance other projects once the bond financing is complete.
WLNS reports “This freeway has been held together with patches and emergency repairs for too long,” said Gov. Whitmer. “This is the first of the Rebuilding Michigan initiative that is rebuilding roads so commuters know they will have a smooth and reliable ride for many decades to come. I look forward to long-term fixes like this across the state over the next few years.” MDOT is investing $60 million to improve I-496 between I-96 and Lansing Road. Work includes rebuilding the freeway and ramps, preventive maintenance on all the bridges in the project area, and making operational improvements to the entrance and exit ramps at the I-96, Creyts Road, and Waverly Road interchanges.
State MDOT officials say doing a complete rebuild on I-496 will save commuters and commercial vehicles many hours and money lost to delays from ongoing maintenance work. MDOT partnered with the Ingham County Road Commission and other stakeholders to help condense the timeline and expense of the work. You will find other benefactors alongside the I-496 project. Reconstruction is being done on Waverly road between Lansing Road and St. Joseph street, a shared use path along Waverly Road, and water main installation at various points crossing I-496. The plan is to complete all these projects on and around I-496 by early November.
MDOT has created a YouTube video of the partially completed project if you would like to see a behind the scenes view of the work being done.