October 2009 Archives

GRAND RAPIDS: In downtown Grand Rapids, MONROE CENTER will be closed between OTTAWA AVE and IONIA AVE for some street lighting repairs beginning Monday (11/2) for three weeks.

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I-196 LANE CLOSURES: Both directions of I-196 will be down to one lane between FULLER AVE and the EAST BELTLINE for pavement repairs from Friday (10/30) 8 p.m. to Monday (11/2) 6 a.m., depending on the weather.

I-196 RAMP CLOSURES: The downtown Grand Rapids interchange still has ramps closed. The ramp from NORTHBOUND US-131 to WESTBOUND I-196 is closed through Tuesday (11/3). Meanwhile, the exit ramp from EASTBOUND I-196 to LANE AVE will be closed Saturday (10/31) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the entrance ramp from LANE AVE to EASTBOUND I-196 will be closed Saturday (10/31) 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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EAST GRAND RAPIDS: The closure of LAKE DR east of EASTOWN is scheduled to end Friday (10/30).

Our sister Tribune station in Richmond, VA, also uses Beat the Traffic to cover the city's commute, but they're much better at it. Better Looking at it, that is. (Okay, they're good at it, too.)


And this week's Vanity Shots had a Gaelic nurse, a New Zealander, and a volleyball player ...

Will this madness ever end?

Farther below in this space, you will find weekend closures that were already on our plate.

But good news! The ramp from WESTBOUND I-196 to COLLEGE AVE opens Friday (10/17) at noon. And concrete barriers would scheduled for removal from US-131 at 44TH ST on Friday (10/16). That's an indication the project is nearing completion.

But new notices have come down from MDOT:

I-196 TOTAL CLOSURE: This one will occur in the early morning hours on Saturday (10/17). The EASTBOUND lanes of I-196 will be closed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. between 44TH ST and 36TH ST. Traffic will be routed off at 44TH ST to WILSON AVE, then north to the 28TH ST on-ramp.
 

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US-131 LANE CLOSURES: The bridge painting crews return to the stretch of US-131 betweeen the PINE ISLAND DR overpass and 10 MILE. SOUTHBOUND US-131 will be down to one lane from Friday (10/16) to about noon on Sunday (10/18). The NORTHBOUND side will be down to one lane from PINE ISLAND DR to 10 MILE until 3 p.m. Monday (10/19).
 

NOTE: The NORTHBOUND lanes will continue to be reduced to one lane through next Friday (10/23) daily from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. You should have two lanes open during the afternoon commute. Meanwhile, you will have two lanes going SOUTHBOUND each day, but that same stretch will be reduced to one lane daily 9 a.m.to 7 p.m. through Friday (10/23).

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28TH ST/M-11 LANE CLOSURE: All weekend, the bridge over the GRAND RIVER will be reduced to one lane both EASTBOUND and WESTBOUND. That's just west of I-196.

It looks like you won't be able to get direct access to downtown Grand Rapids from I-196 this weekend. All kinds of ramp closures are planned at OTTAWA AVE, in addition to other interchanges. Plus, the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon will affect downtown streets Sunday morning (10/18) -- not that there's a lot of activity in downtown GR on a non-ArtPrize Sunday.

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I-196 Ramp Closure: The entrance ramp from FULLER AVE to I-196 WESTBOUND will be closed this weekend from Friday (10/16) 8 p.m. to Monday (10/19) 6 a.m. Detour: Go west on MICHIGAN ST to COLLEGE AVE. The westbound on-ramp there is open.

I-196 Ramp Closure: The entrance ramp from OTTAWA AVE to I-196 EASTBOUND will be closed this weekend from Friday (10/16) 8 p.m. to Monday (10/19) 6 a.m. Detour: Go east on MICHIGAN ST to COLLEGE AVE. The eastbound on-ramp there is open.

I-196 Ramp Closure: The off-ramp from EASTBOUND I-196 to OTTAWA AVE will be closed this weekend from Friday (10/16) 8 p.m. to Monday (10/19) 6 a.m. Detour: Continue on I-196 east to COLLEGE AVE, exit and take MICHIGAN ST west to OTTAWA AVE.

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US-131 Total Closures: The SOUTHBOUND lanes of the freeway will be closed during overnight hours from 36TH ST to 54TH ST as part of the 44TH ST bridge replacement project. The highway will be closed Thursday (10/15) 10 p.m. to Friday (10/16) 6 a.m., then again Friday (10/16) 10 p.m. to Saturday (10/17) 6 a.m., and finally Saturday (10/17) 10 p.m. to Sunday (10/18) 6 a.m. All SOUTHBOUND US-131 traffic will be detoured using the 36TH ST exit, DIVISION AVE, and 54TH ST.

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M-45 Lane Closure: EASTBOUND LAKE MICHIGAN DR will have the right lane closed near the Kent/Ottawa County Line each day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday (10/19) through Saturday (10/24).

 

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Battle Creek, E. Michigan Avenue Closure: The railroad crossing on E. MICHIGAN AVE east of UNION ST will be closed for repairs from Monday (10/19) through Friday (10/24).

US-131 Ramp Closure: The ramp from WESTBOUND I-196 to NORTHBOUND US-131 will be closed from Thursday (10/15) at 5 a.m. through October 30 for lighting installation. Takes a lot to screw in a light bulb.

US-131 Total Closures: The SOUTHBOUND lanes of the freeway will be closed during overnight hours from 36TH ST to 54TH ST as part of the 44TH ST bridge replacement project. The highway will be closed Thursday (10/15) 10 p.m. to Friday (10/16) 6 a.m., then again Friday (10/16) 10 p.m. to Saturday (10/17) 6 a.m., and finally Saturday (10/17) 10 p.m. to Sunday (10/18) 10 a.m. All SOUTHBOUND US-131 traffic will be detoured using the 36TH ST exit, DIVISION AVE, and 54TH ST.

US-131 Total Closure: The NORTHBOUND lanes of the freeway from 54TH ST to 36TH ST will be closed from Friday (10/16) 10 p.m. to Saturday (10/17) 6 a.m. You will be forced to exit at 54TH ST and not re-enter until 36TH ST.

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I-196 Ramp Closure: The ramp from NORTHBOUND IONIA AVE in downtown Grand Rapids to WESTBOUND I-196 will be closed for two weeks, beginning 5 a.m. on Thursday (10/15) until October 30 for more lighting installation. Since the COLLEGE AVE bridge is still under construction, it would be best to go WEST on MICHIGAN ST/BRIDGE ST and enter WESTBOUND I-196 at LANE AVE.

I-196 Lane Closure: More pavement repairs continue on I-196 between FULLER AVE and I-96. Expect the highway to be down to ONE LANE all week overnight 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and all weekend Friday (10/16) 8 p.m. until Monday (10/19) 6 a.m.

I-196 Ramp Closure: The ramp from US-131 SOUTHBOUND to I-196 EASTBOUND will be closed Tuesday (10/13) until October 24. The closure it required as crews work on freeway lighting.

POST DR CLOSED: The repairs to the bridge that carries POST DR over US-131 still needs repairs, so it will remain closed through Sunday (10/18).

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US-31 Lane Closure: The right lane of US-31 NORTHBOUND on the drawbridge in Grand Haven will be closed Tuesday (10/13) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

US-31 Ramp Squeeze: The ramp lane from M-104 WESTBOUND to US-31 SOUTHBOUND will be closed Tuesday (10/13) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The ramp will be open, but you will have to yield to traffic on US-31 instead of having a lane of your own.

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I-94 Lane Closures: Watch for the right lane to be closed overnight on I-94 WESTBOUND between PORTAGE RD and OAKLAND DR from Tuesday (10/13) 8 p.m. to Wednesday (10/14) 6 a.m.

 

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Numbers for 2008 show that Michigan is not only #1 in unemployment, but #1 in deer hits!

We have been the deer hit champ for years.

Here's an update of traffic changes for this week ... '

NEW -- US-131: Expect intermittent lane closures on SOUTHBOUND US-131 through Tuesday, October 13 from 10 MILE to PINE ISLAND DR.

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NEW -- I-96: The exit ramp from WESTBOUND I-96 to EASTBOUND CASCADE RD will be closed, as will the entrance ramp from CASCADE RD to WESTBOUND I-96 overnight Monday (10/5) 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., .

NEW -- I-96: The exit ramp from EASTBOUND I-96 to 28TH ST will be closed overnight Monday (10/5) 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., as will the entrance ramp from 28TH ST to WESTBOUND I-96.

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NEW -- I-94: Expect lane closures overnight in the big WESTNEDGE AVE construction zone between PORTAGE RD and OAKLAND DR 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Monday (10/5) through Saturday morning (10/10).


NEW -- I-94: Expect lane closures overnight in the big WESTNEDGE AVE construction zone between PORTAGE RD and OAKLAND DR 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Monday (10/5) through Saturday morning (10/10).

I-94: Traffic shifts, ramp squeezes, and lane closures at I-69 are scheduled to end by October 10.

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GRAND RAPIDS: The intersection of BRETON RD and BURTON ST should be clearing up, as the project is more than a week ahead of schedule, according to the city. BRETON RD from BURTON ST to the East Grand Rapids city line is now all paved and only pavement markings need to be laid down. Crews will still be milling about, however, as curbs, driveways, and all that cleanup stuff needs to be completed. But the worst of the mess is over.

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I-196: Lane closures will continue overnight 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. between FULLER AVE and I-96 from Monday through Thursday night (10/5-10/8).

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US-31: Watch for lane closures both NORTHBOUND and SOUTHBOUND in Grand Haven between ROBBINS RD and JACKSON ST for sign upgrades overnights now through October 30.

Here's an update of traffic changes for the weekend and into next week (note how much work is being done overnights; I'm sure the workers are glad to have jobs, but overnights are evil hours for anybody's system):

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GRAND RAPIDS: The intersection of BRETON RD and BURTON ST should be clearing up, as the project is more than a week ahead of schedule, according to the city. BRETON RD from BURTON ST to the East Grand Rapids city line is now all paved and only pavement markings need to be laid down. Crews will still be milling about, however, as curbs, driveways, and all that cleanup stuff needs to be completed. But the worst of the mess is over.

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I-196: Watch for lane closures between FULLER AVE and I-96 both EASTBOUND and WESTBOUND from Saturday (10/2) 5 a.m. to Monday (10/5) 6 a.m. due to shoulder and pavement repairs.

I-196: Lane closures will continue overnight 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. between FULLER AVE and I-96 from Monday through Thursday night (10/5-10/8).

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US-131: Intermittent lane closures will slow  you down NORTHBOUND from just south of the PINE ISLAND DR overpass to 10 MILE RD all weekend from Friday (10/2) 10 p.m. to Monday (10/5) 5 a.m.

US-131: Be prepared to slow down for lane closures SOUTHBOUND from 10 MILE RD to the PINE ISLAND RD overpass from Friday (10/2) 9 a.m. to about noon on Sunday (10/4).

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US-31: Watch for lane closures both NORTHBOUND and SOUTHBOUND in Grand Haven between ROBBINS RD and JACKSON ST for sign upgrades overnights now through October 30.

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I-96: Bridge work returns (!) over the GRAND RIVER in the EASTBOUND lanes from Friday (10/2) 8 p.m. to Monday (10/5) at 6 a.m. Expect a slowdown with one lane closed.

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I-94: Be prepared for lane closures between PORTAGE RD and OAKLAND DR from Friday (10/2) 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday (10/3).

With Homecoming on the schedule at Aquinas College this weekend, it was time for me to wear the school colors. Weather won't be great for outdoor activities, but that won't affect all the class reunions planned around campus.

Schedule of events

We now have a camera on top of River House in downtown Grand Rapids. You have probably already seen shots during FOX 17 News at Six.

This cam, along with another one mounted on the southern side of the building, will give us more views of downtown traffic.

Here is our first traffic view at 5:07 a.m. today.