After nearly a quarter-century of discussions and planning, a new U.S. 131 route in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has finally opened, offering a much-needed solution for the city.
This $19 million project, which took roughly 25 years to complete, saw its first vehicle – a Metro bus filled with local officials – traverse the new route on Friday, November 7th. The business route interchange north of downtown Kalamazoo, which had been under construction for eight months, was officially opened after the removal of traffic cones on Friday afternoon.
This expansion introduces a crucial connection to U.S. 131 that didn't exist before. Previously, traffic could only access U.S. 131 from the north via the business route. The new route, highlighted in orange on the provided map, includes two added ramps: a paved ramp to the south and a 334-foot bridge, which will carry traffic from the business route to southbound U.S. 131.
State Sen. Sean McCann emphasized the project's significance, stating it provides "long-delayed justice and relief to the residential areas overburdened by industrial truck traffic and their related effects, particularly in the Northside." But here's where it gets controversial: In the '90s, Mattie Jordan-Woods, the retired NACD Executive Director, fought against a highway expansion plan that would have routed the highway directly through the Northside neighborhood.
Without a direct connection to I-94 or southbound U.S. 131, large trucks were forced to navigate Kalamazoo's city streets. This caused excessive wear and tear on the roads and even led to structural damage to homes due to the vibrations. Jordan-Woods expressed her satisfaction with the final outcome, stating, "I’m ecstatic that they found a way to still serve the businesses without running over the residents."
Furthermore, the expansion is expected to stimulate economic development in Kalamazoo, as highlighted by Sen. McCann. The interchange expansion is designed to improve access to and from downtown Kalamazoo, as per MDOT, and reduce traffic on West Main Street and Stadium Drive.
Curt Aardema, Metro Transit board chair, pointed out the benefits, stating that the new route would create "all kinds of opportunities" by improving access to U.S. 131 and eventually I-94. He also noted that downtown Kalamazoo's historic, narrow streets weren't designed to handle heavy commercial traffic. Reducing this traffic will create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, enhancing the experience for businesses, visitors, and commuters heading to the new event center.
And this is the part most people miss... Aardema summarized the project's goal: "We all want events to happen, we all want people. At the same time, none of us want traffic."
What are your thoughts on this long-awaited project? Do you believe it will significantly improve traffic flow and benefit the community? Share your opinions in the comments below!
- Published: Nov. 08, 2025, 6:45 a.m.
- By Audrey Whitaker | awhitaker@mlive.com
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Audrey Whitaker is a local government reporter in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her coverage includes the city of Kalamazoo, Portage and several townships and villages in the county. Originally from Grosse Pointe, she...
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