Michigan Construction Season Opens Across West Michigan as MDOT and City Projects Shut Down Major Roads

Construction season has officially begun across West Michigan, with multiple major road closures planned by the Michigan Department of Transportation and local municipalities.

The $18.6 million Apple Avenue reconstruction project in Muskegon will shut down portions of M-46 between Muskegon Avenue and Home Street starting Wednesday, April 15. Crews will work on asphalt surfacing, lane reconfiguration, installing a new storm sewer, concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, sanitary sewer, and water main.

Michigan Department of Transportation officials say the work will improve the ride, safety and longevity of the road. The project is expected to last through late November and support about 157 jobs.

Grand Rapids Faces Four Major Road Closures

The City of Grand Rapids has over $51 million in road improvement projects planned for 2026, with four major streets slated for closure this spring and summer.

The MLK Jr. Street bridge over US-131 will close from early April through mid-November. MDOT will replace approximately 700 feet of the nearly century-old bridge built in the 1920s. The bridge is one of two major overpass reconstructions happening around Grand Rapids this decade, with the Wealthy Street Bridge recently receiving funding for a design flip.

The northbound US-131 on- and off-ramps at MLK Jr. Street will also be closed, while southbound ramps remain open as part of the project.

Grand Rapids Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Stevenson said the road is imperative for firefighters at the Martin Luther King Junior Street Fire Station. The station would typically be first on scene for neighborhoods like Grandville and Black Hills, but detours will more than likely make emergency responders second to arrive.

Burton Street Project Receives Largest Investment

The Burton Street reconstruction from Division Avenue to Kalamazoo Avenue will span from April to November 2026 with a total investment of $11.17 million. The project includes lead service line replacement, water main improvements, sidewalk and curb ramp upgrades, and new asphalt pavement.

Other major projects include:

• Buchanan Avenue: This $5.88 million project will reconstruct the street from Hall Street to Corinne Street. The road will be fully closed during construction from spring through June 2027. The project will include addition of bike lanes, replacement of lead service lines and water main work.

• Cesar Chavez Avenue: This $3.5 million project will fully close Cesar Chavez Avenue from Beacon Street to Hall Street. Construction started March 30 and will run through August 2026. The project will include lead service line replacement, water main work and full reconstruction.

• Monroe Avenue: This $1.15 million project will reconstruct the street from Coldbrook Street to Newberry Street starting in April and running through June. The project will focus on resurfacing the roadway and upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps.

City Plans 130 Road Projects

The City of Grand Rapids is planning 130 road reconstruction projects this year, aimed at replacing deteriorating streets and utilities, filling potholes and extending road life. Residents can find a map of all ongoing road projects on the citys website.

MDOT suggests the following detours for the MLK Jr. Street bridge closure:

• Drivers: Division Avenue, Hall Street and Century Avenue
• Trucks east of US-131: Hynes Avenue to Wallen Avenue to Buchanan Avenue
• Trucks west of US-131: Hall Street to Century Avenue to Logan Street to Cesar Chavez Avenue
• Cyclists: Ionia Avenue, Cherry Street and Century Avenue
• Pedestrians: Hall Street, approximately a half-mile south of the bridge

Construction Creates Detours and Delays

Starting Monday, the MLK Jr. firefighters will have to use alternate routes like Wealthy Street and Hall Street along with everyone else to get into the Grandville neighborhood and Black Hills neighborhood.

Stevenson anticipates drivers flooding streets like Hall and Wealthy Streets for detours. The reconstruction work on the historic bridge is set to kick off Monday, with work on the $20 million project scheduled to last through November.

Martin Luther King Junior Street will be closed from US-131 to Ionia Avenue throughout the project. The bridge is one of our major thoroughfares that we use to cross 131 multiple times a day, and as everyone else does on the way to and from work, according to Stevenson.

State Funding Supports Infrastructure Projects

Michigan municipalities are receiving state funding to support these infrastructure projects. The city has more information on projects and MDOT provides construction updates through its online map and construction list.

The $18.6 million Apple Avenue project in Muskegon will rebuild two miles of M-46 between Muskegon Avenue and Home Street. Crews will be working on asphalt surfacing, lane reconfiguration, installing a new storm sewer, a new concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalks, a new sanitary sewer and a new water main.

Michigan Department of Transportation officials say the work will improve the ride, safety and longevity of the road. The construction begins Wednesday, April 15 and is expected to last through late November.