KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 31 US-131 will be closed between 28th Street and Burton Street.
MDOT will be making repairs to the two bridges over Plaster Creek and northbound lanes will be closed until April 25. Afterward, the southbound lanes will then close.
"The lane closures will start well south of there to taper everyone into one lane so they can exit at 28th street," said John Richard, MDOT communications rep for the Grand Region.
He said lanes will begin to be reduced starting at 44th Street.
Entrance ramps to northbound US-131 will also be closed from 44th, 36th and 28th Streets and Market Avenue. The northbound US-131 exit to Pearl Street will also close during this time.
One lane of northbound US-131 will remain open from Burton Street to Pearl Street, but MDOT urges drivers to pick an alternate route.
"They can head west on M-6 and then pick up 196 or they can head east on M-6 and pick up M-37 or 96," said Richard. "Make no mistake, this is going to be very hectic for motorists."
On Thursday in the late morning, 13 ON YOUR SIDE used two cars to see how long it would take to get to Van Andel Arena from 76th Street.
Leaving at the same time, the timers began when the two cars left the parking lot of the 76th Street Diner and traveled at 70 miles per hour.
The car that drove on 131 to Van Andel arrived in 12 minutes.
The car that took the detour on M6 to 196 arrived in 22 minutes, a 10-minute difference, but this is with normal traffic conditions. MDOT says drivers can expect additional time with the added traffic.
"We're going to be taking two lanes, so just one lane will be open so it will get congested," said Richard. "We highly suggest you take 196 to the west, or 96 to the east before you even get to 28th Street."
MDOT says Google Maps is an efficient tool to see up-to-date traffic levels, along with drivers using the Mi Drive map to view updates on road closures along their route.
