I-196 Bridge Work 2006

[GRDadof3]

Great. More road construction.

I-196 bridge work planned for 2006

They're going to try to do this at night, which I don't know how that affects neighbors in the area. This is to prepare the bridges for future expansion of I-196.

[allbusiness]

Great. More road construction.

Yeah, but we'd be complaining if they didn't do the work too!

[GRDadof3]

True, true. Can't we just jump ahead to START and collect our $200???!!

[Prankster]

Yeah, but we'd be complaining if they didn't do the work too!

Yeah, we would be complaining how Detroit stole all our road money.

[torgo]

It cracks me up that they do work on 196/Ottawa last summer, and they are doing MORE work at the same location this summer! Do it all at once, you pinheads!

Its probably not as simple as that, but still!

[Greedo]

So when you say "expansion," is MDOT planning to make 196 three lanes all the way from 131 to I-96? That's the only thing in the world that would make me happy.

That, and a monkey with cymbals.

[torgo]

[Greedo]

BEST!

[GRDadof3]

They've been having openhouses discussing plans to widen that stretch as well as reconfigure the Beltline/96/196 interchange.

[jayblogger]

They've been having openhouses discussing plans to widen that stretch as well as reconfigure the Beltline/96/196 interchange.

that interchange is a complete nightmare. i don't see any way to improve the Eastbound flow of traffic to avoid accidents unless I-96 traffic is totally restricted from exiting at the East Beltline or they build an off ramp in the median similar to what they did at Alpine/I-96/US-131 several years ago. the Westbound flow is ok right now if you ignore the slow traffic in the left lane. i hate passing on the right, but i have to do it there.

[bwindi25]

Here's a excerpt from the public comment I gave at the Environmental Assessment stage of this MDOT project. It is mostly from a downtown resident perspective. At some point I'm going to hang a big banner over Coit Ave overpass that reads "If you lived here, you would be home by now!":

"Concerns and comments regarding Proposed Improvement to I-196, I-96 and M-37/M-44:

1) Lane Expansion: I am opposed to any expansion involving additional lanes on I-196 between the river and I-96. For over 30 years Belknap Lookout has been detached and fragmented from the rest of the city because of I-196. The west side of Grand Rapids experienced similar issues with US131. Additionally, the City Master Plan calls for improved connections to minimize the impact of freeways as barriers for neighborhoods. The expansion of I-196 does not minimize its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. The expansion also will increased noise and air pollution for surrounding neighbors and is a quality of life issue. MDOT highlighted their Environmental Assessment that sound proofing is cost prohibitive and not part of the plan. Finally on the point of expansion. This is a 30 year plan, but funding freeway expansion wasn't even creative or future thinking 30 years ago. If you build it, it will fill up with cars. I thought that the point of M-6 was to alleviate pressure from downtown traffic, what went wrong that now we are adding more lanes.

2) Cost: The estimate we were given last night was $375,000,000 in 2005 dollars for a roughly 4 mile stretch with work being completed in 2030. I believe the original estimate for the South Beltway was somewhere around 450,000,000 for 20 miles of new freeway. Although I have not heard final figures for the cost of the South Beltway, I have heard rumors of it creeping up to 1 billion once the various land acquisitions and easements were secured. My understanding is that the cost for I-196 will be payed for by local, state and federal dollars. I don't see this as a fiscally responsible choice for the City of Grand Rapids or the State of Michigan. We need to be investing these dollars in building up the identity of Grand Rapids as a progressive and creative city, not an antiquated dinosaur that thinks the automobile is the future. If there are legitimate safety concerns on I-196 then only fund those, but not the expansion of additional lanes.

3) Pedestrians: "Traffic Safety" is an oxymoron. As an avid bike commuter, runner and walker I must advocate for more pedestrian oriented development in regards to the I-196 plan, and specifically the bridges and Division Ave boulevard.

4) Division Ave: The most innovative part of the plan is to create a north bound exit onto Division Ave. I think of any part of the plan, this makes the most sense. At this point, it appears that Division is underutilized as a way to get to and from downtown. With the additional north bound exit, I think this road could be better utilized. This is slated to be the last project done in the plan, but it should be the first. Chances are it will reduce traffic congestion at College and Leonard exits and may reduce enough pressure that expansion becomes unnecessary. Again, I would advocate that this boulevard be pedestrian friendly. It can either be another barrier separating Belknap from North Monroe or a connector making pedestrian traffic flow better by tying in with the stairs that come down the hillside. The plan should also include a strategy for recognizing and enhancing the Master Plan's TOD at the intersection of Plainfield/Leonard. The Division Ave project must be integrated and coordinated with all the other activities happening on the Medical Mile, North Monroe, Creston and Belknap. "

[superNOVA]

It cracks me up that they do work on 196/Ottawa last summer, and they are doing MORE work at the same location this summer! Do it all at once, you pinheads!

Like two years ago when they replaced the Lane St ramp. Then last year when they added a lane, replaced the bridge, and re-did the Lane St. ramp area AGAIN. All within six months. Seriously.

[Greedo]

We all understand that adding lanes isn't a long term solution, but until the City and Counties (Kent, Ottawa Muskegon) enact reliable and easy-to-use intraurban transit system, we who drive from the Lakeshore, have to work with what's available.

And don't say "move to the city," because it doesn't work that way when you're wife's job is in Holland.

Congestion along 196 from 131 to Fuller is worst, and that 1/4 mile stub-of-a-third lane up MI hill is completely useless. It's a hazard in it's current state and needs to be extended.

[bwindi25]

We all understand that adding lanes isn't a long term solution, but until the City and Counties (Kent, Ottawa Muskegon) enact reliable and easy-to-use intraurban transit system, we who drive from the Lakeshore, have to work with what's available.

And don't say "move to the city," because it doesn't work that way when you're wife's job is in Holland.

Congestion along 196 from 131 to Fuller is worst, and that 1/4 mile stub-of-a-third lane up MI hill is completely useless. It's a hazard in it's current state and needs to be extended.

Not to be a total jerk, but my wife worked in Spring Lake for 6 years and we lived in the City. The commuting pretty much sucked. Your situation is unique, but it can be done.

MDOT has yet to prove that it is a hazard and that they have explored alternative options or staging. I have yet to be in a "real" traffic jam in Grand Rapids. I just don't see a problem that warrants a 375 million dollar solution.

[PBJ]

And don't say "move to the city," because it doesn't work that way when you're wife's job is in Holland.

Wanna change houses, I live in GR and drive to holland everyday

[twoshort]

Wanna change houses, I live in GR and drive to holland everyday

You'd have to live with his wife then too.

[PBJ]

You'd have to live with his wife then too.

Hehe.. oooopps.. read that wrong.. thought he said they lived and holland and drove here for work..

Although maybe it'd be easier to keep the house clean compared to my current house

[OneSweetWorld]

I have yet to be in a "real" traffic jam in Grand Rapids. I just don't see a problem that warrants a 375 million dollar solution.

[Greedo]

MDOT has yet to prove that it is a hazard and that they have explored alternative options or staging. I have yet to be in a "real" traffic jam in Grand Rapids. I just don't see a problem that warrants a 375 million dollar solution.

Dozens of people scream up the left lane of 196 along Michigan Hill while everyone creeps up the middle lane. The left lane ends, forcing those in the left to merge right, while simultaneously, the right lane is standing still because people are queueing to exit at College, making those unfortunate to have just entered from 131 to also merge into the middle lane at the same time.

It's a poor design and a flippin' nightmare. Extending that lane wouldn't hurt.

[torgo]

can hardley remember the last time i had to drive to the other side of town and not being in a hurry.

Sounds like you need to leave a tad earlier

While traffic certainly isn't a complete nightmare around here, it isn't exactly smooth sailing either. I don't really care if 196 is widened or not, as I rarely use it, and when I do I don't get stuck in too many jams. But I know it can get clogged pretty fast.

[Siler]

2) Cost: The estimate we were given last night was $375,000,000 in 2005 dollars for a roughly 4 mile stretch with work being completed in 2030.

Wow! That's $625 for every man, woman and child in all of Kent County...for just four miles of pavement! That says something about our priorities.

By way of comparison, I paid a total of $21.55 for three of us for mass transit and another $47.86 for all three for schools in my 2005 summer tax bill.

Put another way, at its current budget, this would be enough to run The Rapids as is for another 15 years.

[Rizzo]

Or putting that away to build an enhanced transporation network. Now that you break that down, just wow.

[GRDadof3]

$375 Million was for the whole package I believe, which I don't think much of that work needs to be done. The road just needs to be resurfaced, and the merge lanes expanded (if you ask me). I can see how the exit onto Division North would be beneficial (I didn't think it would be before).

[Picture Michigan]

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/grandrap_19648_7.pdf

Three lanes are needed from Chicago Dr in Grandville to 28th St in Cascade. At the very least, from downtown to Cascade Road.

Can you imagine the construction project over the Grand River though?? That oughta be fun!

There was also a meeting this week regarding the I-196 / Chicago Dr. interchange. In my mind, this is a no-brainer. It's funny, the report I saw on Fox 17 last night never once never mentioned the railroad crossing that's the main reason for the back-ups.

(edit: typo)

[torgo]

In my mind, this is a no-brainer. It's funny, the report I saw on Fox 17 last night never once never mentioned the railroad crossing that's the main reason for the back-ups.

(edit: typo)

Its part of the reason, but I think the real reason is that you have ALL OF JENISON getting on the freeway in that one location, plus some of Hudsonville and lots of GVSU students. A new ramp will help a little bit, but Baldwin, especially between Filmore and Chicago will continue to be a huge cluster____, with or without a ramp. Thats my .02 anyway.