US-31 - I-94 Connector Design Build

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The US-31 freeway project in Berrien County has been in development for nearly 50 years. The goal is to provide a limited-access freeway connection from the I-80/I-90 toll road in Indiana to the US-31/I-196/I-94 connection in Michigan. The first segment of freeway opened to traffic from the state line to US-12 40 years ago. 13 years later, the freeway reached Berrien Springs. In 1967, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) initiated a study to provide a limited-access freeway connection running north and south from the Michigan-Indiana state line to I-94/I-196. The study revealed that there was need for a limited-access freeway. In 1972, the US-31 freeway was approved for design and construction from the Michigan-Indiana state line north to US-12 (Matthew Road) in Niles, Michigan. In 1979, the segment was opened to public use. In 1981, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was approved for the remainder of the freeway north to I-94. In 1987, US-31 was completed from US-12 to Walton Road; in 1992, it was completed from Walton Road to Berrien Springs. After completion of the project to Berrien Springs, the project was put on hold for approximately five years. In 1997, the project was continued north and finished in 2003 at Napier Road in Benton Charter Township.

In 2004 a supplemental environmental impact statement was prepared due to the discovery of the Blue Creek Fen between Benton Center and Millburg. The Blue Creek Fen was identified as a "unique resource," which is home to many unique species, including the Mitchell's satyr butterfly (pictured below), identified as a federal endangered species in 1991, bringing the US-31 project to a halt.

In the early 2000s, MDOT initiated a supplemental environmental impact statement with the design to find a cost-effective and less environmentally damaging route to connect the US-31 freeway with I-94. In 2004, an FEIS and record of decision were issued with an effective new route to connect US-31 to I-94 and I-94 Business Loop (BL) at the current Highland Avenue overpass.

General Information and Planning

The project is to rebuild 3.5 miles of I-94 (21 lane miles) from Britain Avenue to I-196, add an eastbound auxiliary lane from US-31 to I-196, build 1.8 miles (7.2 lane miles) of new freeway (US-31) from Napier Avenue to I-94, reconfigure and rebuild 2 miles (6 lane miles) of I-94 BL, reconfigure the Crystal Avenue intersection into a roundabout, and build two new bridges at Benton Center Road and Britain Avenue. The project letting date was May 15, 2020, and work began in June 2020. The overall estimated project investment is $135 million. The overall cost breaks down to about $18.5 million per mile ($3.9 million per lane mile) is expected to reduce travel time by approximately one to three minutes on average, and provide a seamless traffic flow between freeways and business routes.

Purpose and Need

• Improve the efficiency of north-south vehicular travel and the movement of goods and services throughout the entire US-31 corridor. Improve local access within Berrien County and access to I-94 and I-94 BL.
• Provide free-flow system connectivity and linkage between freeways (US-31, I-94, I-196) and business routes (US-31BR).
• System-to-system connectivity and linkage with a full access interchange.
• Relief of traffic congestion on Napier Avenue.
• Continuous westbound auxiliary lane (southbound I-196 to southbound US-31) and continuous eastbound auxiliary lane (northbound US-31 to northbound I-196).

Design

The civil design of the project was awarded to HNTB. The cost of the design portion of the project is about $8.4 million. The design portion can be broken down further into individual routes. Design for I-94 is about $6.7 million, US-31 is about $1.3 million, and I-94 BL is about $370,000. The videos shown in the slides below show the project design.

Construction

Work began in June 2020. The overall project investment is $113.6 million, which can be broken down further into individual routes: about $70.6 million for I-94, about $39.3 million for US-31, and about $3.7 million for I-94 BL. The first phases of work began in summer 2020. The project schedule is designed by the contractor awarded the contract; however, there are milestones the contractor has to meet in order to ensure project completion. See the proposed project outlook by following this link to the project website:

This is a proposed early design of the entire project. The videos are split into four sections. Use the navigation arrows to navigate the slides and view the different videos.

NOTICE: Some design changes may have been made since the creation of this fly-through. Those changes are discussed in later sections as they occur. However, it gives an overall visual impression of the layout for the new transportation system.

The interactive map below shows all the detour routes that may be implemented during different stages and/or periods of work. The routes and plans shown below are preliminarily approved and are subject to change if necessary.

The project was let in June 2020, and work began shortly after. In August, work began on the I-94 BL, MDOT pre-work kicked off on the I-94 portion of the project in September, and crews broke ground on the Britain Avenue bridge over US-31 in October. Below are project photos spanning fall 2020 (most were taken October-November).

To start photo tour, select one of the photos on the right of the screen.

*Helpful hints:

Clicking on the photo thumbnail will enlarge the photo.

Zoom in and out of the interactive map using the mouse scroll or the zoom buttons in the lower left corner.

You may also navigate the photos by location within the map by clicking the pins.

The interactive map below displays the project's design and is customizable. Use the preconfigured widgets to view different extents and layers or create your own view. Click on layers in the Map to view the type of line it represents or refer to the legend.

For additional Information on this project, please visit the Project website:

COMING SOON:

• Check back regularly for new project updates and photo progress!
• Spring 2021 work updates and photos.
• Finalized alignment and design for US-31.
• Live: Proposed bridge construction Livestream

1.      Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - MDOT prepares draft and final EIS for federal major actions that significantly affect the quality of the human and natural environment. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) describes the early project development activities and conclusions, compares the benefits and impacts of a range of reasonable alternatives, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) identifies the Preferred Alternative, discusses why other alternatives were eliminated, and describes the potential impacts and mitigation commitments for the Preferred Alternative. The FEIS addresses comments received at the public hearing and from federal, state and local review of the DEIS.

Source:  MDOT Environmental Procedures Manual .

2.      Fen - A rare wetland that is low in nutrient systems and receives carbonate-rich ground water from seeps and springs. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

3.      Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) - A document prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) identifying and addressing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of a Recommended Alternative. The FEIS also addresses public comments received during the formal public commenting period as well as the public comments received throughout the NEPA process. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

4.      Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) - A document prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) identifying and addressing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of a Recommended Alternative. The FEIS also addresses public comments received during the formal public commenting period as well as the public comments received throughout the NEPA process. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

5.      Freeway - A divided highway for through-traffic with limited access, the intersections of which are usually separated from other roadways by differing grades (i.e., bridges) and access provided by means of interchanges. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

6.      Habitat - The place or type of site where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives, grows or is commonly found. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

7.      Land Use - The way specific portions of land or the structures on them are used. Land use is typically based on local zoning guidelines. Example land uses include commercial, residential, industrial, retail, agricultural, vacant, etc. 

8.      Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

9.      Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) - The state agency responsible for planning, designing, building and maintaining all I, M and US-route highways, bridges and other modes of transportation within the state of Michigan. 

Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

10.  Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly - The Mitchell’s satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchelli) is a federally endangered species. It is found in a series of disjunctive populations in the eastern United States, the majority of which are found in southern Michigan. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

11.  Right of Way (ROW) - Public land reserved for locating infrastructure such as a roadway or a utility line. A road ROW includes area for shoulders, drainage ditches, and fences in addition to the roadway. Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf 

12.  Wetland Mitigation - Avoidance, minimization and compensation for the loss of functional values associated with wetlands impacted by an activity. The most common types of compensation include wetland restoration (reestablishing some or all of the values associated with wetland where wetland formerly occurred) and wetland creation (establishing new wetland in an upland area). Source:  https://www.Michigan.gov/Documents/Section_10_96033_7.0_Glossary_of_Terms.pdf