MDOT starts wrapping up US-131 rebuilding in Schoolcraft ahead of schedule

Fast facts:

• After two years of road closures and detours, MDOT will be wrapping up about two weeks ahead of schedule the work to rebuild 13.4 miles of US-131 from the Rocky River to Shaver Road.
• The two-year, $51 million investment is funded largely by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program.
• This project will provide much needed improvements to the roadway as well as redesign intersections, improving safety.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. ­- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is reopening one lane of northbound US-131 in Schoolcraft, marking the beginning of the end for the two-year, $51 million investment, about two weeks ahead of schedule.

Starting today, one lane of both northbound and southbound US-131 will be open through Schoolcraft, south of Shaver Road, and the detour will be removed as crews being the final stages of work that started in 2023 to rebuild 13.4 miles of US-131 from the Rocky River north of Three Rivers in St. Joseph County to Shaver Road north of Schoolcraft in Kalamazoo County.

Work remaining includes new pavement markings, signs, restoration, signal work and cleanup. The anticipated date for substantial completion of work is Friday, Nov. 8.

$35.3 million of this project's funding is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state's economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improves the condition of the state's infrastructure.

Based on economic modeling, this project is expected to directly and indirectly support 617 jobs overall.