After two long years of dump trucks, exit closures and lots of orange and white barrels, it looked like the widening project was finally complete on the stretch of U.S. 127 in Lansing between I-96 and I-496.
That’s why some local motorists were shocked this week — and in some cases, dismayed — to see the barrels reappear, seemingly overnight.
Why Are Construction Barrels Back on U.S. 127?
Turns out there’s still a little work to be done.
“ The major work was completed in 2025, however, there was some minor work planned to be completed in 2026,” says Aaron Jenkins, Communications Representative for the University Region of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). “This work includes bridge items, median barrier wall, permanent pavement markings, shoulder corrugations, cleanup, and our standard end of project punchlist items.”
For now, that means closures affecting the innermost lanes both northbound and southbound on the stretch of U.S. 127 between I-96 and I-496. MDOT estimates the final part of this job will be complete by early June…