FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A culvert replacement project will cause a stretch of I-96 between Nunica and Norton Shores to close this weekend.

Westbound I-96 will close between M-104 and US-31 at 7 p.m. Friday. It is expected to reopen at 3 p.m. Monday. Eastbound I-96 is expected to close at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 through 3 p.m. Oct. 27.

The Michigan Department of Transportation said it is replacing a culvert under I-96 just east of the Hile Road interchange in Fruitport Township. The project will cost about $700,000. The new culvert will “improve drainage and extend the service life of I-96,” MDOT said in a release.

The marked detour along M-104 to U-31 covers 13 miles and takes about 20 minutes to travel on a perfect day. MDOT acknowledged the route has never been asked to handle the coming volume of traffic and it could get congested. Frequenters of the corridor told News 8 they will be making alternate arrangements. 

“With people coming back and forth for work here, it is generally packed to begin with,” Steve, a M-104 resident, said. “So sending people down this two-lane highway is going to be a whole lot of no fun. I’ll probably just avoid it all weekend.”

Despite the foreseen frustration, MDOT told News 8 that shutting down the highway entirely is the best way to get the work done safely and quickly. 

“We don’t like closing stuff down. We like to keep everything open,” spokesman John Richard said. “But the full closures benefit everybody because the project is safer for workers and drivers and the work gets done much quicker.”