A 7.5-mile repaving project on US-12 between M-60 and Edwardsburg will take place from May until October.

MILTON TOWNSHIP — A repaving project on US-12 will mean delays between M-60 and Edwardsburg between May and October.

The 7.5-mile project will be done in phases, leaving one-mile stretches of road with one lane open at times. There will be day-time lane closures only.

The Michigan Department of Transportation held a forum at the Milton Township Hall Wednesday to address questions and concerns from residents.

Gary Loyola, traffic and safety engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said MDOT has had this section of U.S. 12 on its radar for a while. The $5.8 million project will include replacing the pavement, widening the paved shoulder from three to eight feet, guardrail replacement and culvert upgrades.

Left and right turn lanes will be added at the intersections with Gumwood Road and Conrad Road, which will help avoid accidents, Loyola said.

“The project will make the road safer to drive on, more comfortable,” Loyola said.

Milton Township Supervisor Robert Benjamin said it is a high-traffic corridor, and the project will impact not just Milton residents.

“It will really impact Edwardsburg and Niles residents,” Benjamin said. “Everyone drives through Milton. Some people say they’ve never heard of Milton. But if you driven on U.S. 12 and Gumwood, you’ve been to Milton.”

Loyola said the project should begin at the east end of the stretch, as to avoid issues with school traffic.

The project is set to begin in early May and be completed by late October.