Benton Harbor City Commissioners have signed off on a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation allowing for some water and sewer work to be completed as part of this year’s M-139 reconstruction project.
Under the contract, MDOT will rebuild M-139 from I-94 to the I-94 Business Loop and reconfigure traffic so both M-139 and Fair Avenue carry two-way traffic. Speaking at this week’s regular meeting, Commissioner SaTanna Warren said with the road torn up, the city can complete the needed infrastructure work.
“We need to replace that,” Warren said. “It’s in need of replacement. So it’s actually somewhat convenient that MDOT is going to be doing construction so we can at the same time replace the water and sanitary sewer. Does everyone understand how that makes sense? So that is saving us money.”
Some commissioners questioned MDOT’s traffic flow plans, but Mayor Marcus Muhammad said it’ll be good to have two-way traffic on both roads in the area, given their proximity to the Business Loop.
“That’s why it’s called Business Loop 94, because there’s businesses that can go along,” Muhammad said. “In fact, since we want to roll it back, it used to be a hotel on fair and businesses all up and down on Fair.”
As part of the contract, Fair Avenue will be reconstructed with one lane in each direction and bike lanes, and then turned over to the city for long-term operations and maintenance. The city will receive Act 51 state funding for its upkeep.
The project will cost the city $229,000, which the city won’t have to pay until next year.
