The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing $200,000 to repave the Capital Avenue bridge over I-94 in Battle Creek, requiring the bridge to be closed and traffic detoured. Construction will start as early as Thursday, Oct. 3, and will be completed by Thursday, Oct. 31.
The posted detours will include taking I-94 to either Exit 95 Helmer Road or Exit 98 I-194/M-66, depending on the direction of travel.
The deterioration of the bridge deck could eventually mandate load restrictions, which could affect safety and commercial access in one of Battle Creek's most vital north-south corridors.
There also will be intermittent nighttime total closures of I-94 during milling operations.
With this closure in place, the City of Battle Creek has developed some service changes to share with neighbors, related to Battle Creek Transit, and the Battle Creek Fire Department’s Station 6:
The Battle Creek Transit bus route 4S – SW Capital – will operate as two separate routes during the bridge closure, starting on Tuesday, Oct. 1 – SW Capital South/”The Circulator” and SW Capital North.
SW Capital North will depart the downtown transfer center on McCamly Street every 30 minutes, and will end at Lakeview Square Mall.
The Circulator will depart Lakeview Square Mall every 30 minutes, and return to the mall after completing stops on the route.
Passengers will need to transfer at Lakeview Square Mall in order to connect between the two SW Capital routes.
During this temporary change, the following stops will be serviced directly across the street from existing bus stop signs – Minges Creek Village, Heritage Oak Lane, Minges Athletic Club, Teal Run Apartments, Glenn Cross Road/Capital SW, Woodlands, The Arbors, Calvary Chapel, and Panera Bread.
The following stops will NOT be serviced – George B Place, Jennings Road, Cascade Drive, Country Club Drive, Frances Drive, Minges Road, Hamilton Lane, Christy Road, and Old China Buffet.
Two temporary stops will be place on Riverside Drive, at Golden Avenue; and on Riverside Drive at Minges Road.
Each of these temporary routes will operate on a 30-minute frequency, beginning at 5:15 a.m. and ending at 5:45 a.m. SW Capital North departs the transfer center at 5:15 a.m. (9:15 a.m. Saturday) and will arrive at the mall at 5:45 a.m. (9:45 a.m. Saturday).
The Circulator departs the mall at 5:45 a.m. (9:45 a.m. Saturday). The last trip departing from the mall to the downtown transfer center will be at 5:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. Saturday). The Circulator will NOT operate between 9:45 and 10:15 a.m. (12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Saturday).
For more information on these temporary changes, or for help planning your trip, please contact the Transit team at 269-966-3474.
The Battle Creek Fire Department operates Station 6 near the bridge, at 2401 Capital Ave. SW.
The team does not anticipate an increase in response times to calls during the bridge closure, especially because the water main project on Columbia Avenue, between Capital and Riverside, is nearing completion.
During the bridge closure, emergency calls from locations east of Capital Avenue SW, will have a response from Station 6 using Riverside Drive to travel south from Columbia Avenue.
Emergency calls from west of Capital Avenue, will have a response from Station 6 using Helmer Road to travel south from Columbia Avenue.
Please contact the Fire team with questions at 269-966-3519.
City staff appreciate everyone’s patience during this important work on our infrastructure, and attention to these temporary service changes.