U.S. 31 Extension to I-196

[rickmeck]

I was down by Niles, Michigan this weekend, and on the drive back to Grand Rapids, I noticed some activity on the stretch of U.S. 31 that is not complete.
There were several construction vehicles, some landscaping had been done in the median, and the weeds have been cleared from the road.
I couldn't find any information about it. Does anyone know anything?

[pianocello]

Huh. I never expected anything to happen there anytime soon. It doesn't look like it's on MDOT's 5-year transportation plan, though, so your guess is as good as mine.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_5YearPlanFY2013-17b_405442_7.pdf

[getemngo]

Hmm... Steve, A.J. Bertin, rawmustard, and I drove this stretch of U.S. 31 together earlier this month, and I noticed the stub section now has shoulder rumble strips — left and right side, both sets of lanes. Interesting indeed. But I don't see much happening until after M-231.

It should be noted that the FHWA approved the new routing of U.S. 31 all the way back in 2004 (see Chris Bessert's article), it's just a matter of MDOT getting the funding. Unfortunately, it's going to come into I-94 at Exit 33, so the concurrency will always be there. 

[brianreynolds]

I asked about this at the MDOT open house.  It is not an active project now.  Probably just MDOT doing routine maintenance on land they already own.

[roadman65]

Its only a matter of a few miles, what is the big deal?

[mgk920]

Its only a matter of a few miles, what is the big deal?

Someone found a funky little blue butterfly in the originally-planned ROW two or three decades ago.  Absolutely true.



Mike

[roadman65]

Its only a matter of a few miles, what is the big deal?

Someone found a funky little blue butterfly in the originally-planned ROW two or three decades ago.  Absolutely true.



Mike

I do not doubt it at all.

[rickmeck]

Looks like the extension to I-196 is off the table.

http://fox17online.com/2013/09/04/i-94-and-us-31-projects-in-sw-michigan-off-the-table-due-to-lack-of-funds/#axzz2dqxgfjiy