"Oh, joy! Oh, rapture!"

I-196 between 44TH ST and 28TH ST is now open in both directions, two lanes of new concrete (westbound concrete was laid last year), and the new BALDWIN ST interchange is done.

This is actually old news, because the transition began Friday night when the new eastbound pavement was opened to traffic. Then the concrete barriers in the westbound lanes were removed over the weekend.



Here's the list from MDOT of what was done over this two-year project:

• Addition of the new on ramp to eastbound I-196 from Baldwin Street including constructing a new bridge to carry the ramp over Buck Creek.
• Addition of a weave/merge lane between the on ramp from Chicago Drive and the off ramp to M-11 (28th Street).
• Replaced the eastbound I-196 bridge over the CSX Railroad.
• Replaced the eastbound I-196 bridge over Buck Creek.
• Completion of just under 2.8 miles of concrete pavement including 1.6 miles of concrete overlay and 1.2 miles of full depth concrete pavement.
• Bridge deck overlay, beam and pier repairs, and barrier upgrades on eastbound I-196 over 36th Street.
• Completion of 7 retaining walls along eastbound I-196.
• Barrier upgrades on the eastbound I-196 bridge over Chicago Drive.

Now drivers between Holland and Grand Rapids can quote the Scarecrow with all sincerity: "Oh, joy! Oh, rapture!"