CONSTANTINE, Mich. — The first new section of US-131 in years opens October 18 with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m.
The nearly five new miles of pavement goes around Constantine from Garber Road to the north and Dickinson Road to the south. The project cost around $18 million, including an 870-foot bridge over the St. Joseph River.
The project had total support from Constantine officials and businesses. Commerce chamber members from the Indiana border to Grand Rapids expressed support for any improvements of US-131 between I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road.
Safety was also an issue. “Now people will be able to cross the street without all the truck traffic,” said Village President Pat Weiss in an MDOT release at the beginning of the project. “This definitely was a safety issue for our community.”
The last time a new section of US-131 was built was several years ago north of Cadillac.
