While M-213 never extended south of M-46 into Ottawa Co, it is ironic to note the relationship between it and M-231, even if one must use a bit of imagination to made the connection.ġ990–2003 – Planning and route selection begins for a new US-31 freeway "bypass" connecting the existing freeway segments of that route south of Holland and north of Muskegon.Ģ006 (Nov 8) – The M-231 route designation for the seven-mile long, two-lane limited-access highway to be built along the line of the proposed " US-31 Bypass" between M-45/Lake Michigan Dr and I-96 at Nunica is unveiled at an MDOT Public Information Meeting on this date.Ģ009 (Nov 20) – The FHWA approves M-231 as a "future rural minor arterial" on this date.
Not only do both highway routes share the same digits with only the 1 and 3 swapped, M-213 ran along what is now B-31 and that route ends at I-96 at the next interchange east of the northern terminus of M-231 less than one mile to the east. M-231 has an odd and somewhat tenuous connection with the long-decommissioned route of M-213 which, for exactly 25 years (from Januuntil January 7, 1960), ran along Maple Island Rd (part of present-day B-31) from M-46/Apple Ave to M-120 in north-central Muskegon Co. Plant Memorial Grand River Bridge Non-motorized Trail." The non-motorized path on the bridge is connected to 120th Ave on the north side of the Grand River and with North Cedar Dr on the south side and will be fully completed and opened to use in spring or summer 2016. Legislation to name pathway after Plant was sponsored by State Rep. Later in life, Plant also served in many Crockery Twp positions, including Highway Commissioner, in the early part of the 20th Century. When he came to Michigan in 1854 with his parents and family, they settling on an uncleared farm at 120th Ave and Leonard St, through which M-231 now passes. Plant has two connections with the new highway. He was the first Medal of Honor recipient from the county and the 14th Michigan Infantry. Plant was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1896, the first in the United States for rescuing his regimental colors. MDOT sources also note the new M-231 Grand River crossing is the seventh-largest bridge in the entire state.Ī non-motorized pathway on the western edge of the M-231 Grand River bridge has been named for and dedicated to Sgt Henry E. The new bridge is 3,700 feet (nearly ¾ mile) long and because of Coast Guard regulations, the minimum clearance between the surface of the river and the lowest beam is 35 feet. For decades, there have only been three bridges spanning the Grand River in all of Ottawa County: US-31 in Grand Haven, 68th St at Eastmanville (between Allendale and Coopersville-the only non-state trunkline bridge in the lot) and the M-45/Lake Michigan Dr bridge east of Allendale. The centerpiece-and most critically-needed aspect-of the entire M-231 project is the bridge crossing the Grand River. As of early 2006, MDOT had approximately $10.4 million to design the three projects and begin property acqusition and additional funding would serve to accelerate the project or, possibly, move work on the other segments up. Acquisition of right-of-way for this segment of the highway ran through 2008 and actual road and bridge construction began in 2011. The M-231 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed and the planning and design phase commenced in 2007. M-231 serves as a relief and detour route when the US-31 Grand Haven Drawbridge is stuck in the open position or experiences other mechanical problems. Since it would not connect directly with US-31, it was designated M-231 instead-a nod to its originally-intended route number and possible future designation should the remainder of the freeway ever be constructed. Also changed was the highway's route designation. This two-lane expressway was built on a four-lane freeway right-of-way to accommodate its eventual conversion to a fully controlled-access facility in the future.
Instead of building the entire corridor from north to south, segment after segment, the state altered their plans instead to only construct one of the proposed two Grand River spans in the 120th Ave corridor and completing a two-lane, limited-access highway from I-96 (at Exit 9) & M-104 near Nunica southerly across the river, ending at M-45/Lake Michigan Dr. With the state's economy rebounding more slowly than expected during the first decade of the 2000s, MDOT announced on Maa revision in the overall plan to complete the proposed US-31 Bypass in Ottawa Co. M-45/Lake Michigan Dr in central Ottawa Co west the 120th Ave intersection Michigan Highways > Route Listings > M-231 Back to Previous Route:
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