BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. - Traffic on U.S. 12 will shift at M-51 on Friday as crews continue construction on the interchange in Niles, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

U.S. 12 will be reduced to one lane in each direction at M-51 while workers start to remove pavement and earth embankments on U.S. 12 to prepare for the bridge removal set to happen in the spring.

Short-term lane closures stay the same for north- and southbound M-51.

MDOT is working in the area as part of a $27 million project that includes removing U.S. 12 bridges and M-51 ramps and replacing them with a signaled intersection and Michigan Lefts. One mile of U.S. 12 and 2.7 miles of M-51 will be worked on as a result.