By Staff
LANSING - Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her Michigan Department of Transportation announced they have taken the “no build” policy on the expansion of U.S. 131 to four lanes from Grand Rapids to the Indiana border. 
The decision puts an abrupt end to years of study and millions of dollars spent to improve the infrastructure of the entire west side of Michigan stretching from Grand Rapids to Three Rivers.
Reps. Jerry Kooiman and Rick Shaffer, who have been instrumental in the process to expand and improve U.S. 131, expressed shock and anger at the decision.
In the past two budgets the Legislature included boilerplate language that expressly asked for a freeway to be built. 
Without improvement, travel and commerce on U.S. 131 will continue to be hampered by difficulties such as the train crossing in Schoolcraft, which frequently causes long delays and traffic backups that extend for miles.
As early as 1972, Gov. William Milliken proposed an upgrade of U.S. 131 to a four-lane, limited-access freeway all the way to the Indiana border.
Since that time millions have been spent on research while population and road use have grown along the 131 corridor.