Brace yourselves, Michigan drivers. Starting April 13, a major $17 million roadwork project is kicking off on the I-196 Business Loop between Holland and Zeeland, with expected lane closures that will stretch across several months, possibly snarling local traffic through November.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced that this hefty sum will be funneled into resurfacing asphalt, repairing concrete joints, updating signs, and fortifying traffic signals alongside installing a new guardrail. As reported by WZZM 13, the eastbound lanes from US-31 in Holland to 88th Avenue in Zeeland are the first to close, starting mid-April through August, with westbound lanes slated for closure from August to late November.

While local businesses have been promised uninterrupted access, commuters will need to reroute. Detours will shift traffic to 16th Street/Adams Street, providing an alternative pathway that adds time to daily commutes but promises a smoother future ride. FOX 17 has outlined the detour path that includes 16th Street connecting US-31 and I-196 to Byron Road.

MDOT justifies the inconvenience with a brighter picture of improved driving conditions and an extension to the operational life of this key corridor. This particular stretch of road, known also as Chicago Drive, bears the burden of fifty-year-old original concrete and is in dire need for an upgrade. MDOT estimates this massive road project will pave the way to approximately 241 new jobs in the region, as stated in a news release obtained by Holland Sentinel. Despite the interim hassle for drivers, the investment asserts a long-term boon for Ottawa County's infrastructure.

For those seeking regular updates and additional information on the progress of the construction, MDOT’s official website serves as a hub for regular announcements. This I-196 Business Loop project joins a host of other infrastructure endeavors kicking off this month within a the 10 counties under MDOT's watchful eye.