South of Holland to Grand Haven would be "twinned" next, howeverĪ retirement and an election at the state level would change Michigan highwayīack to top A Changing of the Guard, A Change in DirectionĬharles M. Only at select intersections, while Beacon Blvd within the city was simplyĪ four-lane boulevard with no control of access. New highway was a four-lane divided, limited-access facility with access Newly constructed Beacon Blvd to Jackson Ave. To traffic from Ferris St in Grand Haven Twp northwesterly to Robbins RdĪt the Grand Haven city limit, then northerly through the city along the Haven improvements was completed when the relocated US-31 opened Two years later in 1957, the third "phase" of the Holland-to-Grand Travel lanes and separation of traffic with a median was part of the overallįour-lane, mostly-divided highway from Niles to Ludington. While not controlled- or limited-access, the additional West Olive northerly for 6.3 miles to the Ferris St intersection south The former route of US-31 throughĭowntown Holland was then redesignated as BUS US-31 at that time.Īnd completion of the "Holland Bypass," the State Highway DepartmentĪlso added a second carriageway alongside the existing two lanes of US-31 from Highway at designated at-grade intersections. With control of access so that motorists could only enter or leave the This is the so-called "Hollandīypass." When the bypass opened in 1955, it was a four-lane facility Washington Ave/Blue Star Hwy south of Holland. The second "phase" of the planned upgrades was underway by 1953.īegin at the southern end of the 1950 route at M-21/Chicagoĭr east of Holland and continue southerly before swinging southwesterlyĪnd merging back into the existing route of US-31 along High standards on a right-of-way to accommodate an additional two lanes At the time, the new highway was only a two-lane road, but built to The former, narrow two-lane route on N River Ave, 136th Ave and West Olive The Holland-Grand Haven upgrades in 1948 and the relocated US-31 openedĭr on the east side of Holland northerly to West Olive in 1950, replacing Work began on the first of three "phases" of The portion of the route from Holland northerly to Grand Haven was near Ziegler began to improve the segments most in need of upgrades To implement this plan, the department under State Highway CommissionerĬharles M. At the time, the plan was ambitiousĪnd seemed to address the current and anticipated traffic needs well into Ludington for such four-lane divided upgrades, which likely included bypasses Highway Department had earmarked the entire route from the Indiana state All other major upgrades were to only consist of four-laneĭivided highways, likely with little or no control of access. To catch up on years of deferred maintenance during the war, had actuallyīegun planning for the post-war travel boom in 1943 when it issued a majorĭocument and its associated plans were updated in 1946, 1948 and againĬonstruction of "expressways," or freeways in modern day terms,įrom Indiana to Mount Clemens, along the I-75 corridorįrom Toledo to Bay City and following today's I-96 fromĭetroit to Brighton. Two- and three-lane highways connecting the major cities and travel destinationsĪround the state were woefully inadequate. Painfully aware to the Michigan State Highway Department that the existing Michigan's highways skyrocketing and the Baby Boom in full swing, it became In the years following the end of World War II, with traffic volumes on A Changing of the Guard, A Change in Direction.Michigan Highways > In Depth > US-31 Freeway in Ottawa County US-31 Freeway in Ottawa County
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