LANSING, Mich. – Mid-Michigan drivers are being advised to prepare for another round of significant construction starting next month along US-127 and I-496. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is gearing up for the next phase of a major roadwork project, which will involve rebuilding roadways, adding an additional lane, and reconstructing ramps and bridges.
MDOT recently hosted an open house at the Foster Community Center to provide the public with details about the upcoming construction, which will primarily affect the southbound lanes of US-127. MDOT Construction Engineer Trevor Block addressed concerns from the community, acknowledging the challenges of completing such a large-scale project on one of Lansing’s busiest routes.
“This stretch of freeway is easily one of the highest priority routes in the Lansing area and it’s going to be tough to get done. We’re just trying our best to make sure it’s as quick as we can,” Block said.
The work will follow the completion of the northbound US-127 construction from I-96 to I-496. The next phase, which begins in March, will involve similar impacts to the ones experienced last year. In addition to roadwork, MDOT will be focusing on improving the overall condition of the road, which, according to Block, will help reduce accidents and improve traffic flow in the long term.
“We’re reconstructing the road for condition purposes, but it also comes with the major benefit of limiting the number of crashes,” Block explained.
However, the construction comes as a challenge for local businesses, particularly those near the affected areas. One such business is Sapura cannabis, located near the southbound exit on Dunckel Road. Assistant manager Josh Benington expressed concern over the potential impact the project would have on the dispensary’s foot traffic, much like last year’s disruptions.
“It really affected us, especially last year, with traffic flow. Getting people to even know we’re here, especially once they close off access, is problematic for our sales,” Benington said. “We’re just trying to prepare for it and do what we can to make it work, just like last year.”
Benington noted that his team had to get creative in order to bring customers in during the previous phase of construction, including canvassing the community and reaching out to Michigan State University students. He remains hopeful that the construction process will be quick, allowing the business to return to normal operations.
“We just had to canvas a lot more. We had to go around the community, get into Michigan State,” Benington said. “Offering delivery might be a good option, but we’ve learned that customers will drive the extra mile for good service. We just hope the construction moves quickly so we can get back to work.”
The project will officially kick off in March, with traffic control measures already being put into place. Northbound US-127 lanes will be split to handle both north and southbound traffic during construction. The plan is to have southbound ramps reopened by June, with the entire project expected to be completed by November.
While the project is expected to cause delays and disruptions, MDOT is hopeful that the long-term benefits, such as improved safety and a more efficient roadway, will ultimately make the inconvenience worth it. As construction progresses, drivers and local businesses will need to stay informed about detours and traffic updates in order to navigate the challenges ahead.
