The Grand Rapids City Commission approved a $7 million agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, to study a Wealthy Street interchange redesign to make the area safer for pedestrians.
“As you know, 131 goes over the railroad tracks south of Wealthy and it goes over Cherry and the river with the S-curve, but in between is Wealthy Street, where it goes under.”
City Engineer Tim Burkman explained a $10 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant included in the state’s 2022 budget has been awarded to MDOT and its redesign process.
“The grant was intentional about looking to shift Wealthy to being at-grade with US-131 being elevated over, with the goal of reconnecting the community that’s currently divided by the highway through this area.”
Burkman says considering the Wealthy Street overpass was built in the 1960’s and its current condition, significant investment in the area is being considered within the next 10 years.
According to Michigan State Police crash data, US-131 and Wealthy Street is the most dangerous intersection in Kent County.
