The Michigan Infrastructure Office announced $34.7 million in grants Friday to address decades of inequities caused by past decisions with the idea of creating a more connected state.
$25 million of that goes to the Grand Rapids' “East Beltline Bridge Replacement” project over I-96 from Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad to Bradford Street.
Planned for 2026, it includes enhancing vehicle lanes, pedestrian walkways and creating dedicated bicycle lanes.
John Richard of Michigan Department of Transportation Communications says the original bridge dates to the 1960’s when the freeway system was first constructed.
It is now one of the busiest freeway to non-freeway interchanges in West Michigan.
The grants also include $800 thousand for a freeway crossing study to examine better pedestrian and cyclist access under US-131.
Richard says MDOT continues to study US 131 in Grand Rapids between 28th Street and I-196, but no funding has been identified as the project is estimated to cost at least six times the annual budget for the 13-county Grand Region of West Michigan.
