LANSING - Dan Hardley knows what it’s like to maneuver through Lansing without the convenience of Interstate-496.
“We did it before and we can do it again,” said the Stockbridge resident, who for more than 30 years has commuted 40 miles daily to operate machinery in Lansing’s Oldsmobile Plant.
Today many Lansing drivers will discover how to travel without the eastern portion of I-496, which temporarily closed at 6:01 p.m. Monday from US-127 to Pine Street for five months of construction.
Hardley, who remembers when the highway opened in the 1960s, will now join about 60,000 motorists daily being escorted by orange cones onto alternate routes in Lansing.
After rush hour on Monday, Cathy Curtis and her husband Richard stood on a bridge on Washington Street above the nearly desolate I-496.
“We wanted to watch it close,” she said.
The couple stared out into the heavy-machinery-lined highway and watched the last of the cars - until August - travel the freeway.
They watched traffic control specialists block entrance ramps and close portions of the highway.
Construction starts today and the couple says they can already hear it from their home on South Washington. They’re also expecting traffic problems to worsen around their neighborhood.
“We have a few alternate routes planned,” Cathy Curtis said. “We’ll just go wherever we have to. We’ll figure it out.”
Officials are asking motorists to travel along main roads during the $42.5 million project.
These roads consist of Saginaw Highway, Kalamazoo Street, Michigan Avenue, Mt. Hope Road, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Cedar Street, I-96 and I-69.
“We’re hoping people will use the main thoroughfares,” said Cheryl Risner, director of Lansing’s Neighborhood Council. “But unfortunately not everyone will do that. They’ll try to short cut.”
She said drivers will have to deal with the fact that not all of Lansing’s streets will take motorists where they want to go. Some streets dead end and others only go in one direction.
She told other employees at the council to leave early for work and to expect to get home late.
“It’s going to be hard for everybody but this is something that we need to have done,” she said.
Construction entails replacing pavement between Pine Street east to US-127, adding a third lane between Pennsylvania Avenue and US-127 and replacing the bridges over the Grand River. Officials say I-496 will be smoother and safer after the repairs.
Kari Debnar, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said most drivers began finding alternate routes weeks ago.
“Hopefully, people have planned and picked their alternate routes and they’ll be ready for today,” she said. “We ask people to be patient and plan plenty of extra time.”
Debnar said people might not be familiar with their routes yet and drivers should also consider having a few backup plans.
“You never know if there’s going to be a car accident or something blocking the route,” she said. “Have at least three or four picked out so you’ll be well prepared. Plan ahead and be patient and we’ll all get through this.”
Transportation officials predict that most drivers will settle into their routes in the next few weeks, but Capital Area Transportation Authority is still an option for some.
CATA has partnered with Lansing to distribute more than 23,000 free bus passes, in anticipation of the highway’s closure.
Sandy Draggoo, CATA executive director, said the public transportation mentality is spreading through the city, and bus drivers expect to see more new faces occupying their seats than ever before.
“It’s been interesting,” Draggoo said. “We’re ready for today.”
CATA officials are tracking the amount of people using the bus system. About 1,200 free passes are being used daily, and Draggoo said that number has steadily grown in the past two weeks.
Although it isn’t likely for most motorists to surrender the conveniences of their vehicles, an increase of public transportation would decrease congestion on the streets.
“People are still going to be in the cars,” Draggoo said. “For the first few days they’re going to try it and we’re just going to have to wait and see.”
With motorists taking alternate routes, Denny Myers, merchandising manager of Riverfront Cycle, 507 E. Shiawassee St. in Lansing, said he’s not worried about the business’ success while the highway is closed.
He hopes the diversion of traffic will actually help the store thrive.
“They’ll be able to see our shop a little easier this way and they’ll realize that we’re here,” Myers said.
Suzanne Thelen, vice president of public affairs for Lansing’s Chamber of Commerce, said business owners are having mixed feelings about the construction and the traffic.
Some say the traffic is beneficial and allows additional motorists to see their stores; others worry that patrons won’t be able to reach them.
“I think everyone’s concerned about what’s going to happen,” Thelen said. “There’s lots of different fears and opportunities that people are feeling and both will come true. But as a whole our community will be a lot stronger.”
Transportation officials helped make the community stronger more than 30 years ago, when the road was built. Upon its opening in December 1963, I-496 was named Olds Highway - after the automobile pioneer Ransom E. Olds. The highway was opened in sections, beginning with the east portion near Jolly Road. Construction was completed in December 1970.
Most Lansing residents accepted the new conveniences I-496 offered, but some did not welcome it. Ironically, Olds’ home was torn down to make way for automobiles traveling the new freeway.
“It took out all the big, old beautiful houses on Main Street.” said Elizabeth Homer, curator for the historic Turner-Dodge House, 100 E. North St., in Lansing.
“I think our community quite regrets that, although (I-496 has) been a wonderful way to move people through the city,” she said.
“We’ll soon find out that we’ll miss it too.”
