BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Michigan Department of Transportation officials announced on Friday that M-139 in Berrien County will remain closed to through-traffic between Scottdale Road and John Beers Road a few months longer than originally anticipated, now until November 15.

"Work to replace the large box culvert under M-139 has taken longer than originally planned. Several heavy rain events and poor soil at this location have increased the time it has taken to excavate under the box culvert, place stone backfill and install the box culvert," MDOT officials said. "There also is a six-week settlement period required to ensure soil consolidation before the new M-139 roadway is built over the new culvert."

Local traffic is being detoured on John Beers Road and Scottdale Road while commercial traffic is being detoured on US-31, Napier Avenue and I-94.

MDOT officials say that replacing the old concrete box culvert under M-139 "at the end of its service life will increase the waterway opening for Big Meadow Drain tributary for more natural creek flow and less obstruction."

The closest cities to the construction are Berrien Springs and St. Joseph as M-139 connects the two. Original construction, which was said to have directly or indirectly supported 38 jobs, began on May 1.