Benton Harbor Approves Water and Sewer Work for M-139 Project

City commissioners sign off on contract with MDOT to complete infrastructure upgrades during road reconstruction.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) that will allow the city to complete needed water and sewer infrastructure work as part of MDOT's upcoming reconstruction of M-139 from I-94 to the I-94 Business Loop. The project will also reconfigure traffic on M-139 and Fair Avenue to carry two-way traffic.

Why it matters

The joint project between the city and state will save Benton Harbor money by allowing it to replace aging water and sewer lines while the road is already under construction, rather than having to undertake a separate infrastructure project at a later date. The traffic reconfiguration is also expected to benefit local businesses along the I-94 Business Loop.

The details

Under the contract, MDOT will rebuild M-139 and reconfigure traffic so both M-139 and Fair Avenue carry two-way traffic. With the road torn up, the city can complete the needed water and sewer infrastructure work at the same time. Fair Avenue will be reconstructed with one lane in each direction and bike lanes, and then turned over to the city for long-term operations and maintenance. The city's portion of the project will cost $229,000, which it won't have to pay until next year.

  • The M-139 reconstruction project is scheduled for this year.
  • The city's water and sewer work will be completed concurrently with the MDOT road project.

The players

Benton Harbor City Commissioners

The local governing body that approved the contract with MDOT to allow the city to complete infrastructure upgrades as part of the M-139 reconstruction project.

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

The state transportation agency that is leading the reconstruction of M-139 from I-94 to the I-94 Business Loop.

SaTanna Warren

A Benton Harbor City Commissioner who noted that the road construction provides a convenient opportunity to replace the city's aging water and sewer lines.

Marcus Muhammad

The Mayor of Benton Harbor, who said the traffic reconfiguration to two-way on both M-139 and Fair Avenue will benefit local businesses along the I-94 Business Loop.

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What they’re saying

“We need to replace that. It's in need of replacement. So it's actually somewhat convenient that MDOT is going to be doing construction so we can at the same time replace the water and sanitary sewer. Does everyone understand how that makes sense? So that is saving us money.”

— SaTanna Warren, Benton Harbor City Commissioner (wsjm.com)

“That's why it's called Business Loop 94, because there's businesses that can go along. In fact, since we want to roll it back, it used to be a hotel on fair and businesses all up and down on Fair.”

— Marcus Muhammad, Mayor of Benton Harbor (wsjm.com)

What’s next

The M-139 reconstruction project is scheduled to begin later this year, at which point the city will commence its water and sewer infrastructure work as part of the joint project.

The takeaway

By coordinating its infrastructure upgrades with MDOT's road reconstruction project, Benton Harbor is able to save money and minimize disruption to local businesses and residents. This type of collaborative approach between state and local governments can serve as a model for other communities looking to efficiently address aging public works while taking advantage of planned transportation improvements.