BERRIEN SPRINGS — The Michigan Department of Transportation wants to put M-139 on a “road diet,” and Oronoko Township officials aren’t sure what to think of the idea.
The township received notice Tuesday that MDOT has set a public meeting for June 26 about its proposal to narrow the highway at U.S. 31. The meeting is at 4-6 p.m. at the Township Hall along Snow Road.
The plan involves reducing the number of lanes from five to three. The project is scheduled for later this year, and the work would affect the section of M-139 between Lemon Creek Road and Red Bud Trail.
The existing configuration of two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane will be changed to one lane in each direction with the center turn lane.
MDOT officials say the reconfiguration will improve safety as vehicles merge onto M-139 from U.S. 31 and Red Bud Trail, and it would reduce traffic speeds.
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