Capitol News

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is nearing completion of Component 1 of the Blue Water Bridge plaza expansion project in Port Huron. According to MDOT, crews will finish the remaining road work this month, which includes final paving, filling pavement gaps, and approach improvements.

Preparation began the week of November 3 for reopening the 10th Avenue/Pine Grove Avenue intersection, the Pine Grove Connector, and eastbound I-94 by mid-November. During this period, intermittent lane and shoulder closures will be implemented and posted as necessary in the project area while work continues.

Noise wall construction will continue throughout the winter along westbound I-94/I-69 from Garfield Street south to the Black River. This phase, along with landscaping and other final tasks, is scheduled for completion in 2026. Additional intermittent lane closures are planned along the Pine Grove Connector next spring for noise wall painting.

Access on the Pine Grove Avenue ramp to the bridge plaza will remain limited to passenger vehicles.

Component 1 involves several key elements: relocating Exit 275, reconfiguring the Pine Grove Avenue/10th Avenue intersection, rebuilding eastbound I-94/I-69 at the MDOT maintenance facility site, and installing noise walls along both eastbound I-94/I-69 exits to Pine Grove Avenue and westbound I-94/I-69 Business Loop from Garfield Street south to Black River Bridge.

MDOT estimates that this $36.3 million investment will support approximately 346 jobs through direct and indirect economic impacts.