The Michigan Department of Transportation will hold an open house next week on its plans to reconstruct M-139 in Benton Harbor starting next year.

MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells us they’re going to rebuild the road from near the St. Joseph River to the I-94 Business Loop. They’ll also rebuild the Business Loop from Fair Avenue to Butternut Street in Benton Township. The project will take two full construction seasons, and the cost isn’t yet known.

Schirripa’s inviting everyone to the open house to learn more because this is a project that will affect a lot of drivers.

“This is a chance for folks to go see the plans that we have developed so far, certainly get an idea of what we’re looking at, but then beyond that, give us their feedback and let us know,” Schirripa said. “Maybe there’s something we’ve missed or something we haven’t considered. Certainly our engineers live and work in these communities as well, but sometimes there’s local context that we don’t always know. So it’s good to get that feedback.”

In 2026, MDOT will work on M-139 from Pipestone Road to Main Street, or the I-94 Business Loop. In 2027, they’ll rebuild from Fairplain to Pipestone and do some driveway and drainage work south of Fairplain.

The open house for everyone to learn more will be on Tuesday, September 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Benton Township Hall on Territorial Road. MDOT staff and contractors will be on hand to explain and take questions.

Schirripa says construction should start in the spring of next year.