TL/DR –
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close parts of US-131 near downtown Grand Rapids for bridge repair starting from the end of March. The $6.2 million project will improve and repair two bridges over Plaster Creek on US-131, which is considered an extremely necessary fix. Despite the need for a full rebuild and modernization of the US-131 stretch, the current budget only allows for smaller improvements, while a full rebuild is estimated to cost upwards of $500 million.
Michigan’s US-131 Bridge Repair: An “Extremely Necessary Fix”
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) affirms the $6.2 million project dedicated to bridge repair near downtown Grand Rapids as highly essential.
From late March, sections of US-131 will be closed for bridge repairs. Firstly, northbound US-131 will close for approximately a month at 28th Street starting Sunday, March 31, with a single lane open from Burton Street through downtown.
Southbound US-131 will subsequently be closed at Burton Street for about a month. Detour routes will be provided via M-6 to I-96 or I-196 to sidestep the construction. Additionally, lane closures will occur on US-131 between 28th Street and Pearl Street for the project duration.
MDOT Communications Representative, John Richard, anticipates severe disruption due to the 120,000 detoured vehicles from the busiest highway outside of Detroit. The project to improve and repair two bridges over Plaster Creek is called an “extremely necessary fix” by MDOT.
The bridges, with original pavement from the 1950s/60s, will have joints fixed and be rehabilitated. While US-131 requires a full rebuild and modernization costing an estimated $500 million, the annual budget for Michigan’s “Grand Region” is only $100 million. Consequently, these smaller improvements will be utilized until a full rebuild can be funded.
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