News

9.2 mile stretch of U.S. 31 bypass opens

By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
Thursday, August 28, 2003 11:07 AM EDT

NILES -- The Michigan Department of transportation began construction of it in 1998.

Elected officials and Michigan Department of Transportation staff cut the ribbon that signified the opening of US-31 between Berrien Springs and Napier Avenue. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the St. Joseph River bridge on Wednesday afternoon. At far right is Congressman Fred Upton and third from right is former state Sen. Harry Gast. Both men were instrumental in making the bypass project a reality.

And finally, after almost five years of construction and decades of planning, the 9.2 mile stretch of US-31 from Berrien Springs to north Napier Avenue is open for traffic.

MDOT staff and elected officials, including Congressman Fred Upton, R-Mich., opened the new stretch of freeway at an afternoon ribbon cutting ceremony at the south end of the St. Joseph River bridge on Wednesday.

The ceremony, however, didn't take place until members of the Berrien County Riders, a local motorcycle group, formed a caravan that took the first official drive down the northbound lanes of the freeway.

The new stretch of road, which opened for traffic at 6 p.m. Wednesday, is expected to reduce travel time from Berrien Springs north to I-94 by 10 to 15 minutes and will make travel between the north and south part of the county more convenient.

"On behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, I am glad to present US-31 to the citizens of Michigan," said Ted Wahby, chairman of the State Transportation Commission, during his short speech to the substantial crowd who witnessed the ribbon cutting.

Wahby said the opening of US-31 is significant and its economic impact will reach far beyond Berrien County.

"Today's an exciting day for Michigan," continued Gloria Jeff, director of MDOT, during her speech. "By opening US-31, we have improved access for everyone in Southwestern Michigan."

Upton congratulated the many people who have been involved in the work on the new stretch of freeway.

He also commented on the impact the completed freeway will have for the region.

"It will improve transit between the north and south county and is likely to improve the economic climate of the region," he said. Upton said many obstacles have had to be fought along the way toward completion of the freeway project, which ended up costing a little short of $100 million.

Problems have included lack of funding at state and federal levels, as well as problems with the projected path that went through the habitat of an endangered butterfly.

But Upton, who has been a key player in ensuring the freeway project has remained on track, also said the new stretch of freeway is important to increase the safety of drivers.

He mentioned the many serious accidents that have taken place on Old US-31 between Berrien Springs and the twin cities; the latest one involving a young man from Buchanan who lost his life in a traffic accident last week.

"We have all witnessed those things," said Upton, hoping there will be less accidents on US-31. State Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, was glad to see US-31 finally open for traffic open.

But like many others in the region, Jelinek looks into the future and wants to see US-31 eventually connect with I-94 at Napier.

The 1.9 mile stretch of Napier Avenue has been widened to five lanes between US-31 and I-94 and will serve as the connector between the two freeways.

US-31 now includes interchanges at Pipestone Road, Tabor Road, US-31/Berrien Springs/M-139 and at Napier Avenue.

A total of 11 bridges were constructed for the project.

Print this story   |   Email this story