The following overview highlights some of the prior activities by
MDOT and other local project stakeholders relevant to the
US-131 Improvement Study now underway.
US-131 is currently a statewide principal arterial serving north-south
traffic in Michigan's western lower peninsula extending 270 miles
from the Indiana state line north to the City of Petoskey.
This corridor provides an important link between the east-west
I-80/90 turnpike in Indiana and I-94 in Michigan. Because of this linkage,
US-131 has become a primary route for commercial truck traffic destined for
major urban areas in western Michigan and northern Indiana. A high volume of
trucks, approximately 14% of the average daily traffic, currently
use US-131. Problems associated with this high volume of truck
traffic include pedestrian crossing conflicts, and vibration &
noise impacts, particularly within the Village of Constantine's
registered historic district.
1997 Corridor Location Study
To address some of the aforementioned problems, the Michigan Department
of Transportation (MDOT) conducted a corridor location study to identify
a one-mile wide corridor within which improvements could be made that would
improve traffic conditions along US-131. The goal of the study was to serve
the public interest by providing for efficient movement of people and goods
throughout the southwest Michigan region. The corridor study was designed to
present recommendations for the general location of improvements to this
trunkline highway.
The 1997 study analyzed the present and future traffic, physical,
economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors as they related
to state trunkline highway
requirements (Figure 3).
Public involvement was also a key component of this study as the views and comments of the
public were solicited regarding the future of this important highway system
linkage. Over 350 people attended public hearings held in November of 1997.
After evaluating the comments and concerns received at the public hearings,
general consensus was achieved in support of the corridor west of the Village of Constantine.
MDOT has since adopted its 5 Year Road and Bridge Program
Plan which identifies the need to perform the US-131 Improvement
Study within the Constantine area. This study will recommend
locations within the identified 1-mile planning corridor where
US-131 could be upgraded, improved and/or relocated, including a
potential bypass of the Village of Constantine. Improvement
options to be considered during the US-131 Improvement Study will
include a two-lane bypass, a multiple lane type facility,
a boulevard and/or a limited access freeway. To download a
copy of the Public Hearing Brochure distributed at the November
1997 Public Hearing or MDOT's 5 Year Road and Bridge Program Plan
in PDF Format please click below.
Corridors Studied During the Prior MDOT Corridor Location Study:
Two independent organizations have formed in support of local community and regional interests in improving US-131. The following provides a brief summary of each of these organizations.
-
US-131 Corridor Master Plan Committee
The US-131 Master Plan Committee was created by resolution in February 1996
and is comprised of representatives from fifteen local units of government
and other appointees representing interested organizations along the US-131 corridor in both St.
Joseph and Kalamazoo Counties. The US-131 Corridor Master Plan Committee was
formed seeking to upgrade US-131 within St. Joseph and Kalamazoo Counties to a limited access facility.
The Committee recommended utilizing the existing right-of-way where possible, except for the
Villages of Constantine and Schoolcraft, where they felt a new highway should bypass both villages.
The US-131 Corridor Master Plan Committee has also recommended that measures
be taken during the study to assure minimal land loss occurs as a result of upgrading
the highway, as well as minimal disruption to the homes, businesses, farms and the sense
of community within St. Joseph and Kalamazoo Counties.
- US-131 Area Development Association
The US-131 Area Development Association of Michigan has promoted the
completion of US-131 as a freeway from the Indiana state line to the
Straits of Mackinac since the mid-1950's and in 1969 became a full-time
operating organization. Since that time its Board of Directors has
met monthly to promote its official goal of "promoting the speedy
ompletion of highway US-131 as a freeway from the Indiana Toll Road
(interchange) to the Straits of Mackinac via a connection with I-75."
To accomplish this goal, the association provides representation at meetings
held to discuss future US-131 highway development issues.
The association has actively been promoting a freeway
concept for the segment of US-131 running from the
Village of Schoolcraft to the Indiana state line since the late 1980's
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