The Berrien County Road Department will start an improvement project on Shawnee Road in Oronoko Township today, July 25.

The department says the road will have an intermittent lane closures between Red Bud Trail and the Berrien Springs village limits. Communications coordinator Adri Boone says commuters should expect delays as there will only be one direction of travel.

“At any given time when crews are working, one of those two lanes will be closed, meaning the other lane will facilitate through traffic,” Boone said. “Then once it is clear to do so, the opposite traffic will be stopped, allowing the additional traffic to resume normal travel on the roadway.”

Construction will include roadway widening prior to resurfacing with a 2-inch asphalt overlay, which will provide paved shoulders.

The project is projected to last about three weeks, with the road department aiming to have it done in time for the Berrien County Youth Fair. Boone also says Shawnee Road will be open during the fair week, whether or not the project is complete.

“We have all confidence that we will be reopened before the fair, but if in the worst case scenario that project sees any setbacks, the road will be fully open. We won’t have any lane reductions leading immediately up to the fair or during that fair week. So, anything that may have to be resumed would occur after the conclusion of the fair.”

The Red Bud intersection with Shawnee Road will be temporarily closed at times during the project. Lane closures will be maintained by flaggers, and alternate routes should be sought between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.