Road construction season underway across Michiana

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- It’s that time of year in Michiana, with a number of construction projects commencing across the area that could impact your day-to-day commute.

Thousands who take the Main Street bridge over the Toll Road between Indian Ridge Boulevard, and University Drive will need to plan a different route in the coming months.

The Contractor has provided a schedule indicating their intent to implement Phase I of construction on the bridge which will require the closing of the northbound lanes of Main Street over the Toll Road beginning Monday April 14th and extend into July, where Phase II will then begin.

Then the Southbound lane will close for work until mid October.

County officials tell ABC57, they tried to work around closing the highly traveled bridge, but this is the only way to complete the $2.4 million dollars worth of necessary repairs and maintenance.

Advance information sign have been installed along with message boards to notify the public of the upcoming changes.

The Detour Route is also posted and will utilize Grape Road for north / south travel, accessing Grape Road by either University Drive or Douglas Road.

Businesses impacted by the project, are trying to keep high spirits as the neon yellow vest and orange cones takeover.

“It’s obviously they’re fixing the bridge… they got to get it done, but when I heard it was almost 6 months I mean for at least for us where we are location wise it is gonna impact us,” said David Hoffman the Owner of the Tasty Kernel that costumers will now have to use the University Drive Entrance to access.

And across state lines, a $2.7 million dollar repaving project is underway on M139 from Dean Hills Road to Hinchman Road in Berrien Springs through August.

"It's going to go through August, we are going to take a little bit of pain, but if people just communicate and take their time to drive through it, I think it will be smooth actually,” said Mari Kissinger the owner of Baugette de France sandwich shop.

Make sure wherever you are headed you give yourself extra time, look out for workers, and slow down through construction zones.