Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin work on five bridges at the I-196/US-131 interchange in Grand Rapids starting September 22, 2025. The project is expected to cost approximately $1.3 million and will include concrete substructure repairs, slope improvements, bearing replacement, and painting.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer commented on the broader effort to improve infrastructure across the state. "Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to grow our economy, helping Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely," said Whitmer. "By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired or replaced nearly 24,500 lane miles of roads and 1,900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying, local jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, let's build on our momentum to pass a bipartisan local road funding plan so we can keep fixing our damn roads and creating good-paying, local jobs."

The work is scheduled for completion by late October 2025. During construction, lane closures will occur on both eastbound and westbound I-196 at US-131. The westbound I-196 ramp leading to southbound US-131 will be closed as well. Additionally, eastbound I-196 will close at US-131 over two weekends; those specific dates are yet to be announced.

MDOT states that economic modeling predicts this investment will directly and indirectly support about 12 jobs. The agency also notes that these improvements are intended to extend the service life of the bridges in question.