4.5 miles of M-139 in Benton Harbor to be repaired; public meeting set to discuss plans

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The Michigan Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 12th at the Benton Township Hall to discuss a planned road project to repair more than 4 miles of M-139 in Sodus and Benton Townships, and a section of the I-94 Business Loop in Benton Harbor.

MDOT says it plans to rehabilitate M-139 from near the St. Joseph River north to the to I-94 business loop, as well as a short section of the I-94 loop from Fair Avenue to Butternut Street in the city of Benton Harbor. The section of M-139 between the river and Empire Avenue will be repaved and retain its five-lane configuration.

North of Empire Avenue, the existing divided one-way roadways of Fair Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive are being evaluated for potential changes, and it’s anticipated Martin Luther King Drive will be repaved, with Fair Avenue expected to be rebuilt.

Proposed work includes improvements to pavement condition, safety, drainage and public utilities, and is set to begin in 2026.