MDOT will host three public meetings in February to highlight upcoming construction projects

Contact: Julie Hurley 269-208-7829

Agency: Transportation

January 28, 2005 - - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be gearing up for the 2005 construction season by holding three public information meetings on these upcoming projects: US-131 from Ann Street to West River Drive (north of Grand Rapids); US-131 at Hall Street, Burton Street Plaster Creek and 28th Street (south of Grand Rapids); and M-37 from the Kent/Barry county line north to 76th Street in Caledonia.

MDOT will hold the public information meeting on the US-131 project north of town on Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Comstock Park High School, located at 150 6-Mile Road, NE, Comstock Park, 49321. The meeting will include two short presentations: one beginning at 4 p.m. and the other beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. The project includes reconstruction of southbound US-131 from Ann Street to West River Drive, and northbound US-131 from North Park to West River Drive. In addition, weave/merge lanes will be constructed on southbound US-131 from West River Drive to I-96 and from I-296/I-96 ramp to Ann Street, in Kent County. During reconstruction, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. This approximately $20 million project is scheduled to begin in April and will wrap up by November.

MDOT will be holding public information meetings regarding the US-131 project south of town on Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Wyoming City Library, located at 3350 Michael Ave., SW, 49509. The meetings will begin with a brief presentation by MDOT staff and then will be open for general questions. The project includes the replacement of the M-11 (28th Street) structure over US-131, bridge deck overlays at Plaster Creek and Conrail Railroad, substructure repair at Hall Street over US-131, and pier replacement on Burton Street over US-131 in Kent County. During most of the work on US-131, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction, with periods of one lane open in each direction. For the work on M-11 (28th Street), a minimum of one lane in each direction will be maintained at all times. The project cost is approximately $10.5 million.

MDOT will hold a public information meeting regarding the M-37 project from the Barry County line north to 76th Street on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Caledonia Village/Township Hall, located at 250 S. Maple Street, SE, Caledonia, 49316. The meeting will include two short presentations: one beginning at 4 p.m. and the other beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. The project includes pavement resurfacing and intersection improvements on M-37 from 76th Street to the Barry County line in Kent County. During work, one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. The project cost is approximately $4 million.

Starting in March, information on individual projects will be available on the MDOT Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot.

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