LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer Monday signed a supplemental spending bill that included the remaining $3.9 million needed to construct the U.S. 131 Interchange Business Loop in Kalamazoo County.
Earlier this year, $20 million was included in the FY ’23-24 Fiscal Year Budget for this project.
According to State Senator Sean McCann of Kalamazoo, the completed U.S. 131 Interchange project will add two ramps at U.S. 131 and the U.S. 131 Business Route north of the City of Kalamazoo. One ramp will go from northbound U.S. 131 onto the eastbound business route and the other will go from the business route onto southbound U.S. 131.
After the bill signing, McCann said, “Throughout my tenure in the Michigan Legislature, and previously as a Kalamazoo City Commissioner, I have championed funding for this critical infrastructure project for Kalamazoo County. In 2020, I was proud to work with former Rep. Jon Hoadley to obtain funding for the design study. In 2022, I worked with Rep. Julie Rogers to secure $3 million toward construction funding. This year we have achieved the remaining $23.9 million needed to fully implement this project.”
State Representative Julie Rogers of Kalamazoo reacted by saying, “This bill secures the final piece of funding for US-131 and Business 131 interchange which will bring transformational change to our Northside community, reduce truck traffic and emissions in our neighborhoods while improving our air quality. “I am thrilled this project, which has been in the planning and development stage for several decades, will finally be fully funded and implemented.”
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