Public Open House Set February 2 on Reconstruction of I-96/Cascade Road Interchange

A public open house to discuss the planned 2015-16 reconstruction of the I-96/Cascade Road interchange in Grand Rapids Township will be held on Monday, Feb. 2.

NEW LOCATION: The open house will be held at Heather Hills Retirement Village at 1055 Forest Hill Avenue SE in Grand Rapids from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Current plans include safety and operational improvements at I-96 and Cascade Road by reconfiguring the interchange. This includes reconstructing Cascade Road between Cascade West Parkway and Kenmoor Avenue, and replacing the Cascade Road bridge over I-96 with two new bridges.

Work is scheduled to start in late July or early August.

Construction plans this year include shoulder closures and traffic shifts. There will also be intermittent short-duration nighttime traffic stoppages during bridge beam setting and some intermittent lane closures during temporary pavement widening.

2016 will bring bigger traffic issues including:

• Weekend closures of Cascade Road during bridge demolition. Cascade Road will be closed and I-96 traffic will be diverted up and over the ramps.
• I-96 will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the weekend closures.
• Other shoulder and lane closures, plus traffic shifts will also be necessary.
• Beam setting will require nighttime traffic stoppages.

Michigan Department of Transportation and township officials will be available for questions and comments.