SAUGATUCK TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 26, 2026) – Motorists attempting to drive through the Saugatuck area towards Holland may encounter some difficulties on Thursday evening.
State Department of Transportation crews are planning to close northbound I-196, from exit 36 through exit 41, to pick up spilled polystyrene plastic pellets and repair a damaged guardrail. This stemmed from a January 27th incident in which a semi left the highway near the south end of the span during heavy snowfall and icy road conditions, causing its load of several thousand pounds to spill into the river and along the roadway.
Lingering wintry conditions prevented state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy officials from going over the site until warmer weather arrived last weekend, revealing somewhat the extent of the spill. The pellets, while considered to be harmful to wildlife that may mistakenly take them as a food source, are not toxic or hazardous to public health.
The closure is slated for 7 PM through 12 Midnight, weather permitting, with traffic diverted through Douglas and east of Saugatuck. It’s the same detour MDOT established on December 29th, when a northbound semi attempting to avoid slamming into stopped traffic skidded off of the highway and down into Old Allegan Road, causing a fiery wreck, and damaging the span over the surface street. The left lane of the freeway is expected to remain closed until this coming November while materials are acquired to repair the bridge.
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