“We are very much on track because right now we have a structurally deficient bridge that needs to be replaced and that shot clock is on to get that done.”
Mayor Gary Carey is excited for the spring 2025 project to begin.
Plans call for replacing the current narrow Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 in Walker, widening Fruit Ridge from 3 Mile Road to Northridge Drive.
“The importance of having a bridge that can handle the current employment numbers as well as future growth is absolutely critical to the health of our city.”
A city, he says, with a population that gets 60% larger on workdays with employees commuting in.
He estimates there are 15,000 jobs within a 2-mile radius of the narrow bridge built in the 1960’s.
“We need those jobs coming in there and we’re right on that cusp of this being a potential roadblock for business coming in.”
The project received a $25 million grant from the state and also includes a non-motorized path along Fruit Ridge Avenue and on the north side of 3 Mile between Kinney Avenue and Fruit Ridge.
That will improve safety for pedestrians and bikers, and link with area trail heads in the West Michigan system.
“Really, we have here a broken link here. You can’t get across that walking or biking – there’s just no way.”
The public meeting is Monday, July 8 from 4:30-6 at Walker City Hall.
