MDOT staff told the Benton Harbor Public Safety & Public Works Committee Tuesday that work on M‑139 (Fair Avenue) and the I‑94 Business Loop segment will be a generational reconstruction designed to rebuild pavement, replace storm and sanitary infrastructure and improve multimodal access.

The MDOT presenter said the project design has advanced to the point that contracts were advertised and bids are expected in early January; he said estimated construction start is April 2026 with work phased across 2026 and 2027. The presentation covered nearly 4.5 miles of corridor work, including full reconstruction on Fair Avenue, replacement of culverts (Hancock and Eastman drain culverts), sanitary and water main work, new sidewalks, marked crosswalks, transit stops and bike lanes on Fair Avenue (bike lanes will not be placed on the MLK business loop).

A major geometric change will convert the current one‑way pair (northbound MLK and southbound Fair) to two‑way operation on both streets. The plan also includes a roundabout at the Fair/Empire intersection to reduce conflict points and near‑miss conditions flagged in crash and near‑miss analyses. Staff said lane reductions (single lane each direction with bike lanes and shoulder space) are intended to reduce speeds and improve safety.

On construction staging, MDOT said initial work will include tree removal and culvert replacements, then moving traffic onto MLK while rebuilding Fair; the agency expects the bulk of mainline pavement work in 2027 and additional pavement work funded in a future program for 2029. MDOT staff discussed driveway consolidation ("closing between 50 and 60 driveways") and said lighting will be AEP‑owned and operated; the roundabout will include low‑maintenance plantings and lighting around the exterior.

Commissioners asked about specific local impacts — Fair Plain Drive/Sky Drive continuity, posted speeds (staff said 25 mph once the roadway becomes a city street after reconstruction), bike‑lane placement, maintenance agreements for the roundabout and how lighting will be sited. MDOT staff said many elements (lighting pole placement, final contractor schedules) will be finalized in design and through contractor proposals once the job is awarded.

The presentation generated sustained Q&A from commissioners on truck turning, sidewalk continuity, transit stop placement and winter maintenance; no final votes were recorded on the project during the committee session, but staff said they will return with additional updates and that contractors will present formal schedules after award.