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A Grand Rapids Group Wants To Help MDOT ‘Rethink 131’

Posted at 10:38 PM, Mar 03, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-04 04:33:49-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Mar. 3, 2014) – More than 100,000 vehicles travel along US-131 in a single day according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

MDOT is looking at the long-term use of the highway and would like to get public input when it comes to any plans for possible reconstruction or redevelopment of the highway.

There is one group in particular, called Rethink 131, that wants to be in on those discussions.

US-131 runs through the center of downtown Grand Rapids, and some would argue that it sits on some valuable real estate.  The Rethink 131 is wondering if repairing US-131 is the best option when it comes to the future of transportation in the city, or if 131 should be redone all together.

The group is hoping to share its ideas with MDOT during a public meeting on Thursday from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. at the Rockford Construction Community Center at 601 First Street in Grand Rapids.

According to MDOT, this is just a first step in evaluating what can be done  in the coming years US-131 and I-96.  How much will it cost? What’s the environmental impact?

The hope of ‘Rethink 131’ is that the public will have a say no matter what the outcome is.

According to MDOT, another public forum will take place on Wednesday, March 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Walker Fire Station at 1470 3 Mile Road NW.  More meetings are expected to follow.