US-31 north of Napier Avenue in the Benton Harbor area is now open to traffic. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells us the $121 million project that connected US-31 to I-94 is complete.
“Everything we’ve been working on for these last two years or so, it is done,” Schirripa said. “It is open at long last.”
Schirripa says MDOT started extending US-31 from the state line to Berrien Springs in the 1970s and then brought it from Berrien Springs to Benton Harbor in the 90s. They had to drop plans to connect it to I-94 in 2004 due to the route running through an endangered butterfly’s habitat. With everything now worked out, Schirripa says the work has been finished on time and within budget.
“A project of this magnitude over two, two and a half years to be on budget, on time, and to be able to do something of this magnitude this quickly, it’s been pretty incredible to watch.”
You can now get on northbound US-31 from Napier Avenue and head to I-196. I-94 work in the affected area is also complete. Schirripa notes there will still be some off-road work next year related to the project, but nothing that will affect traffic.
