Motorists in Kentwood should brace for a significant overhaul of M-37 (Broadmoor Avenue), as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reported. Starting April 14, the stretch of road from north of 44th Street to north of 60th Street will be under construction, with $12 million allocated for the project. Besides the road rebuild, the plan includes signal upgrades and a lane extension designed to enhance safety on southbound M-37 from Patterson Avenue’s north junction to 60th Street.
As the community of Kentwood gets ready, drivers traveling northbound on M-37 can expect closures at M-6 running from mid-April to mid-July that will reroute them. Following that period, southbound M-37 will experience closures at 44th Street from mid-July until mid-October. Detours will use M-6, I-96, and M-11 (28th Street), aiming to lessen the pain of commuting disruptions that will be inevitable. During the project, local intersections between 44th and 60th streets will also face closures, which the Michigan Department of Transportation has made known.
The investment in infrastructure doesn't just smooth out the asphalt – it's anticipated to support jobs too, with around 114 jobs directly and indirectly buoyed by the project, based on economic modeling. While the end goal is safety and longevity for M-37, the disruption is a reality that locals and travelers alike must navigate. The project has a completion target set for November 2025, offering a light at the end of the tunnel for those weary of construction zones.
