KALAMAZOO, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently began work to rebuild and repave 13.4 miles of US-131 from the Rocky River in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, to Shaver Road in Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County. The two-year, $51 million investment will start this year at the Rocky River and go to just north of XY Avenue. Work in 2024 will pick up at XY Avenue and continue north to Shaver Road.

Work in 2023 includes repaving US-131, joint repairs, improving drainage, and rebuilding all intersections in the project area as indirect left turns, or "Michigan Lefts." The existing crossovers at intersections will be removed, and new temporary crossovers will be built for the project.

When work resumes in 2024, the remainder of the intersections outside of the village of Schoolcraft will be converted to Michigan Lefts as repaving continues north to Shaver Road which will be converted to a Michigan Left for southbound US-131 traffic.

Work within the village in 2024 includes rebuilding the road and sidewalks, curb ramps, and curb and gutter. A left-turn phase will be added to an upgraded traffic signal at Lyons Street, and new pedestrian crossing signals will be installed at Eliza Street.

While traffic will be maintained in each direction throughout the project, motorists should anticipate delays and seek an alternative route. There will be a two-week closure in 2024 to rebuild the Grand Trunk Western Railroad crossing.

$35.3 million of the project 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.