Every Major Construction Project Happening This Summer Around Grand Rapids (2026)

In Michigan, the sign of summer isn't bird songs, trees blooming, or sunsets getting later and later. No, the real sign of summer is the sprouting of traffic cones on every other road, as construction season and warm weather go hand-in-hand.

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It's the unfortunate side effect of only having a few months a year where there isn't snow on the ground. Knowing what streets or highways are shut down before you leave for the beach or whatever summer activity you're up to can save you lots of time in traffic.

For real-time lane closures, you can view Mi Drive's interactive map, but these are the following major projects provided by the State of Michigan.

Full details on all these projects are available on the Department of Transportation's website.

Martin Luther King Jr. St. Partial Bridge Replacement (Grand Rapids)

Getting to and from Downtown Grand Rapids via US-131 will be significantly slowed, as the bridge over 131 will be closed, with traffic detoured via Hall Street, Division Ave., and Century Ave. 

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These closures will only affect northbound on- and off-ramps, while southbound ramps will remain open as usual. It is only replacing the east portion of the bridge (700 feet) east of US-131, hence the southbound lanes are largely unaffected. The bridge is nearly 100 years old, so it's due for a touch-up. Construction will run from April to November.

US-131 Light Replacements (Grand Rapids)

If you read the above project and groaned, then you'll be thrilled to learn that just one mile later, from Wealthy St. to Pearl St., the MDOT will be replacing the lights, light poles, and foundations along the highway that are between and above the pavement. Expect lane and ramp closures between May and October. 

Traffic downtown is already going to be backed up because of this, and with the Acrisure Amphitheater opening this summer, it's going to be very congested.

I-96 Rebuilding...Still (Ionia County)

Since 2024, the 9-mile stretch of I-96 between Bliss Road and Sunfield Road has been under construction, and that work will continue all summer long. On the bright side, MDOT is still on schedule to have the $130 million project done by the fall of this year.

M-37 Rebuilding (Caledonia)

2.7 miles of road on M-37 (Broadmoor Avenue) in Caledonia, between 76th Street and 92nd Street, will be widened to four lanes, with improved intersections, new traffic signals, and sidewalks. Construction will run from April to November.

The reason for this is that this two-lane road has "established crash patterns during morning and afternoon rush hours for years", with sections of M-37 having an 82% higher crash rate than other areas in the region.

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62% of these were rear-end crashes at intersections due to traffic congestion. These stats make it one of West Michigan's most dangerous roads.

M-46 Reconstruction (Muskegon)

The 2 miles of M-46 (Apple Avenue) from Muskegon Ave. to Home Street will be fully reconstructed, with new concrete curbs, gutters, storm sewer, water main, sanitary sewer, and signs. It's going to look brand-new over there. Construction runs from April to November.