GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Michigan Department of Transportation is looking at different options for possibly rebuilding a section of US-131 between 28th Street and I-196 in Grand Rapids.
Discussions began in earnest between state and city officials three years ago about a potential rebuild of the entrance and exit ramps at Burton, Hall, MLK Jr. and Wealthy streets.
"They're all a little bit too short. They were designed in the 1940s and built in the '50s and '60s, and it's time for a re-do," John Richard said. He is a communications represenative for M-DOT's 13-county Grand Region.
WOOD Radio asked them for an update on the project plans.
The City of Grand Rapids says it's waiting for M-DOT to complete its Planning & Environmental Linkages study of the US-131 corridor before analyzing a potential rebuild of the interchange at Wealthy Street.
"We've been studying it for the past couple of years," Richard said. "Just to see what works, get public perception. And, really, to have things ready to execute when we have the funding."
Richard told usthe on- and off-ramps from 28th Street to downtown need to be redesigned. But it will cost upward of $700 million to update that section of the freeway. He said the annual budget for M-DOT's 13-county region on this side of the state is $100 million.
Richard said it remains uncertain whether Wealthy Street would be rebuilt to run underneath US-131 or if the bridge over it would remain in place. The bridge consistently has been among the prone spots for traffic accidents, according to state records. The southbound entrance ramp onto US-131 enters traffic in the fast lane. And on the northbound side, traffic exits from the fast lane.
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