US-131 is the busiest stretch of road in Michigan outside of Detroit, carrying more than 140,000 vehicles a day.
The section between Cherry Street and 28th Street is growing increasingly challenging, designed in the 1940’s and built in the 1950’s with the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming growing up around the corridor.
“The growth has been so substantial that we've basically outgrown this stretch of 131 and it needs to be rebuilt modernized and changed.”
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson John Richard says the entire regional budget is $100 million.
This project will cost much more.
“It's going to be $600-$700 million so it is crazy expensive and we're not sure where the funding is going to come from. We're looking for untraditional funding.
From grants to private partnerships. Richard mentions one project on 131 in Wayland.
“The Gun Lake tribe came to us and said hey, we would like you to replace this bridge because we have a vision and we said, well this bridge is structurally sound; it's not going to be replaced and they said well what if we pay for it? Then of course we said, what kind of interchange would you like?”
An unlikely scenario to happen again, he admits, but all options are being explored as the cost continues to rise.
“Five years ago, we were talking half $1 billion, then it was 600. Now I'm hearing $700 million so the longer we wait, the more expensive it's going to be.”
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