Great Lakes Wire

The I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue interchange and new pedestrian paths in Walker, Michigan, have officially opened to traffic. The project is the result of cooperation between local officials and state agencies.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) partnered with the City of Walker on the $30 million project. Funding included a $25 million grant from the Michigan Legislature under Public Act 1 of 2023. The new infrastructure replaces the original bridge and interchange built in 1961. The updated bridge has been expanded from two lanes to five and now includes pedestrian paths on both sides.

City of Walker Mayor Gary Carey commented on the significance of the development: "Projects like this don't happen overnight. They take vision, persistence, partnership and a shared belief that our infrastructure is worth investing in."

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place last Friday at the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge as final work was being completed. Local students from Kenowa Hills High School participated in the event, which marked a return to regular bus routes.

According to MDOT, Fruit Ridge Avenue was rebuilt from 3 Mile Road to Northridge Drive as part of this initiative. Nonmotorized paths were added along Fruit Ridge Avenue and 3 Mile Road, with trail connections established on both sides.

State Senator Mark Huizenga emphasized the economic impact: "Within a 2-mile radius of this bridge there are over 15,000 jobs. New companies come here to work and they rely on infrastructure for better productivity and better quality of life."

The project also addressed a gap in regional trail connectivity by providing continuous trails linking Grand Rapids northward to Cadillac—a distance of about 100 miles—and westward approximately 40 miles to Lake Michigan.

State Representative Carol Glanville highlighted the importance for pedestrians: "This was the missing piece. This is a key intersection to unlock hundreds of miles of trails. Pedestrians now have safer access to the White Pine Trail, the Pioneer Trail and the Standale Trail." Glanville credited bipartisan cooperation for achieving these goals.